The reactions of [F^----HOMe] and [MeCO₂----HF] negative ions with acetaldehyde and acetone. An Ion Cyclotron Resonance and ab initio Study

Abstract

The ion [F^-- - -HOMe] may be produced by the reaction of CF₃O- with methyl formate, a reaction of a type widely used for the production of 'solvated' negative ions. The possible reaction mechanism for the model system F^-/HCO₂H has been explored by ab initio calculations. The reactions of acetaldehyde and acetone with [F^-- - -HOMe] yield stable [M + F^-] ions which are thought to correspond to 'solvated' enolate negative ions. Their formation in terms of a mechanistic pathway, recently proposed to account for the formation of [M + RO^-] ions from [RO^-- - -HOR]/ > CH-CO- systems, is supported by ab initio calculations.