Gas phase formation and reactivity of iron naphthylene cations: A route for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon growth

The formation and reactivity of iron naphthylene cations in the gas phase are investigated by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Fe(C10H7Cl)(+) and Fe(C10H6)(+) are prepared by reaction of 1-chloronaphthalene with iron cations. Special attention has been paid to the reaction of iron naphthylene cations with C10H7Cl. This leads to the formation of a five ring molecule which could be perylene or benzofluoranthene through spontaneous elimination of HCl. The reaction of C10H7Cl with Fe(C10H7Cl)(+) displays a different behaviour since the elimination of one Fe and two Cl atoms leads to the formation of a binaphthyl cation. Astrophysical implications on the growth of large PAHs are proposed.