Mass spectrometric approaches to interstellar chemistry

In this review we focus both on major developments in new mass Spectrometric techniques and on novel chemical applications of existing mass spectrometric techniques that have been reported since 1990. Emphasis is given to the application of these techniques to the study of bimolecular ion/molecule reactions, radiative association, and dissociative recombination of positive ions. Particular attention is given to the emerging field of interstellar metal-ion chemistry and recent studies of fullerene-ion chemistry and the influence of charge state on this, and related, chemistry. Mass spectrometric studies of the photochemistry of interstellar ions are briefly considered as is interstellar negative-ion chemistry. We conclude with a brief description of the use of mass spectrometry to examine interstellar material that has made the long journey to our solar system.