Gas‐Phase Activation of Fluorocarbons by “Bare” and Coordinated Praseodymium Cations

Abstract

Rather than CH or CC bonds, Pr + activates CF bonds in the gas phase in a variety of aliphatic and aromatic fluorocarbons; PrF + and PrO + react analogously. This first general example of preferential CF bond activation in the gas phase allows interesting conclusions to be drawn regarding the importance of 4f electrons for the reactivity of isolated lanthanide species. The existence of neutral PrF and PrF 2 in the gas phase was also proven by neutralization–reionization mass spectrometry (NRMS).