The reaction of germyl ions with ethylene

The reactions of [GeH 3 ] + ions with C 2 H 4 and C 2 D 4 have been studied in a tandem mass spectrometer over a pressure range of 1–20 millitorr and over an energy range of 1–9 eV (LAB). The predominant reaction of an initial [GeC 2 H 7 ] + collision complex is back‐reaction to reactants. However, stabilized adduct ions [GeC 2 H 7 ] + and their daughter decomposition products [GeC 2 H 5 ] + are observed in increasing amounts as the pressure of C 2 H 4 is increased. It is proposed that the structures of these product ions are [CH 3 CH 2 GeH 2 ] + and [CH 2 CHGeH 2 ] + , respectively. The hydrocarbon ions [C 2 H 5 ] + and [C 2 H 3 ] + are observed as products of endothermic reactions of ground electronic state [GeH 3 ] + ions with C 2 H 4 ; these same ions along with [C 2 H 4 ] + and [C 2 H 2 ] + are observed as products of exothermic reactions of an electronically excited state of [GeH 3 ] + present in the ion beam.