Gas-phase reactions of microsolvated fluoride ions: an investigation of different solvents.

The gas-phase reactions of F(-)(DMSO), F(-)(CH(3)CN), and F(-)(C(6)H(6)) with t-butyl halides were investigated. Reaction rate constants, kinetic isotope effects, and product ion branching ratios were measured using the flowing afterglow selected ion flow tube technique (FA-SIFT). Additionally, the structure of F(-)(DMSO) was investigated both computationally and experimentally, and two stable isomers were identified. The reactions generally proceed by elimination mechanisms; however, the reaction of F(-)(C(6)H(6)) with t-butyl chloride occurs by a switching mechanism. These reactions are compared to previous studies of microsolvated reactions of t-butyl halides where the solvent molecules were polar, protic molecules.