Studies of gas-phase fragmentation reactions of [Pd(PPh3)2(OCOR)]+ by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Gas-phase fragmentation reactions of [Pd(PPh3)2(OCOR)]+ (R = H, CH3, CD3, C2H5, n-C3H7, n-C6H13 and C6H5) were studied by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICRMS). In sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) experiments, the complexes all dissociated to yield the same product ion at m/z 629.1. We propose that the fragmentation pathway occurs through the elimination of RCOOH and a palladium(IV) hydride intermediate. Semi-empirical (PM3) calculations shed light on the mechanism for the fragmentation reactions of these compounds. The results of deuterium-labeling experiments indicate that the protons of RCOOH lost from [Pd(PPh3)2(OCR)]+ originate from the phenyl in the triphenylphosphine ligand. [Pd(PPh3)2(OCOH)]+ undergoes two competitive pathways in SORI-CAD experiments, one of which is similar to that of [Pd(PPh3)2(OCOR)]+ (R = CH3, CD3, C2H5, n-C3H7, n-C6H13 and C6H5), and the other involves decarboxylation. The present study demonstrates that MS could play an important role in studying the gas-phase chemistry of palladium hydrides. Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.