Meisenheimer Complexes Positively Characterized as Stable Intermediates in the Gas Phase

Abstract

Proof positive: Infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, with the tunable IR radiation of a free-electron laser source, provides positive identification of alkoxide adducts of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene as prototypical anionic σ complexes in the gas phase (see calculated IR spectrum of 1 under the experimental IRMPD spectrum; N blue, O green, C gray, H light gray).