Gas-phase synthesis and reactivity of Cu(+)-benzyne complexes.

Cu(+)-benzyne complexes bearing bidentate nitrogen ligands were synthesized in the gas phase for the first time using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The addition reactivity of copper-stabilized benzyne with amines was studied in the ion trap analyzer. The structures of products were identified by comparing their MS(n) data with authentic compounds obtained from another generation route.