Generation of hydrated iodide clusters I−(H2O)n by laser vaporization, their fragmentation and reactions with HCl

Hydrated halide anions I−(H2O)n, n=0–25, were generated in a laser vaporization source by laser vaporization of solid CsI and water expansion. An investigation of the black-body radiation-induced fragmentation of size-selected clusters (n=1–12) under collision-free conditions in a Fourier-transform–ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer revealed an overall k∼n unimolecular rate constant dependence as has been observed before with other hydrated ions. Adding HCl as reaction gas into the cell region, a series of subsequent ligand exchange and fragmentation reactions result in terminal anions of the type I−(HCl)n.