Toward ICP-SIFT mass spectrometry and atomic cation ligation as a probe of relativistic effects-A personal journey

The ICP-SIFT mass spectrometer at York University, a derivative of flowing afterglow (FA) and selected-ion flow tube (SIFT) mass spectrometers, has provided a powerful technique to measure the chemistry and kinetics of atomic cation-molecule reactions. Here, I focus on periodic trends in the kinetics of ligation reactions of atomic ions with small molecules. I examine trends in ammonia ligation kinetics across the first two rows of the atomic transition metal cations and their correlation with ligand bond enthalpies and ligand field stabilization energies. Also explored are trends down Groups 1 and 2 in the kinetics of noncovalent electrostatic ligand bonding and the tendency for s electron solvation of the atomic alkaline-earth cations with ammonia. Finally, I briefly review trends observed with 12 different ligands in the ligation rate down the periodic table with Group 9-12 transition atomic metal cations. These trends provide a compelling probe for the presence of relativistic effects that influence the strengths of the metal-ion ligand bonds that are formed. There is a clear third-row rate enhancement with Ir+, Pt+, Au+, and Hg+, the extent of which depends on the nature of the ligand. This large set of kinetic data provides an unprecedented broad perspective of relativistic effects in ligand bonding. With CS2 as a ligand, the third-row relativistic effect is apparent in the formation of both the first and the second ligand bond with the Groups 10 and 11 atomic cations as predicted by our quantum chemical calculations of ligation energies.