Publications by authors named "Richard B Wyrwas"

Anion photoelectron spectra of the O(2)(-) . arene and O(4)(-) . arene complexes with p-xylene and p-difluorobenzene are presented and analyzed with the aid of calculations on the anions and corresponding neutrals.

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Reaction products resulting from small molybdenum suboxide cluster anions and carbon monoxide were studied with both mass spectrometry and anion photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy. In addition to the C6O6- product proposed previously, a number of unsaturated carbonyls were identified as terminal products in these reactions. A new PE spectrum of what may be C6O6-, in which the contribution from the Fe(CO)4- contaminant is subtracted, is reported.

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C6O6- has been observed in mass spectra of the anionic reaction products between small molybdenum suboxide clusters and carbon monoxide. No other free oxocarbanions were observed, nor were any dianions. The anion photoelectron spectrum of C6O6- shows that the neutral has an adiabatic electron affinity of 2.

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Carbon-cluster anions, CN-, are very reactive toward SO2 (sticking probability of 0.012 +/- 0.005 for C27- at 25 degrees C), in contrast to their inertness toward other common atmospheric gases and pollutants.

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Recent computational studies on the addition of ammonia (NH3) to the Al3O3- cluster anion [A. Guevara-Garcia, A. Martinez, and J.

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The reactions of Mo2Oy- suboxide clusters with both methane and ethane have been studied with a combination of mass spectrometry, anion photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Reactions were carried out under "gentle" and "violent" conditions. For methane, a number of products appeared under the gentler source conditions that were more logically attributed to dissociation of Mo2Oy- clusters upon reacting with methane to form MoCH2-, Mo(O)CH2-, and HMo(O2)CH3-.

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In the absence of moisture and at room temperature, the activity and saturation of CO on gold cluster anions, Au(N)-, are known to be highly dependent on the size of the cluster. Small Au(N)- clusters (N = 2,3) showed no adsorption activity, and the saturation CO adsorption values did not increase proportionately to cluster size or area. Here, we report on the effects of water vapor and temperature on the ability of Au(N)- clusters to adsorb CO in a high-pressure, fast-flow reactor.

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The discovery that supported gold clusters act as highly efficient catalysts for low-temperature oxidation reactions has led to a great deal of work aimed at understanding the origins of the catalytic activity. Several studies have shown that the presence of trace moisture is required for the catalysts to function. Using near-atmospheric pressure flow reactor techniques, we have studied humidity and temperature effects on the reactivity of gas-phase gold cluster anions with O2.

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