9311614 Richardson This project, supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program, will utilize ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy for the study of gas phase reactions between transition metal complex ions that have direct solution analogues. The primary focus of the work is to understand the effects of solvation on the reactivity of such species in the condensed phase. Of special interest are electron transfer equilibria of substituted ruthenocenes, the reactivity of Group 4 complexes with olefins and alkynes, and the thermochemistry and spectroscopy of high charge, or high mass, ions that are to be produced by electrospray ionization. A new ionization source will be developed for the latter application, which will involve divalent metal complex ions and small proteins. %%% This project seeks to understand the ways in which the interaction of the solvent with solutes affects their chemical reactivity. The results of these studies may be used to improve industrial polymerization catalysts, improve solar energy conversion devices, and to better understand and control biological processes. ***
