Ion-molecule reactions of hydrocarbon ions in C2H2 and HCN

Rate coefficients and product distributions have been determined for reaction of the ions C(x)H(y)+ (x ranging from 1 to 4, and y ranging from 0 to 4) with C2H2 and HCN. The measurements were obtained using the ion cyclotron resonance technique at 298 K. In several reactions an association product was observed at pressures as low as 0.000001 torr, and in these cases stabilization of the intermediate was assumed to be by photon emission. Most of the reaction studied yield ions having a larger carbon skeleton than the reactant ion. These reactions provide routes for building large organic and organonitrogen molecules in combustion zones of unsaturated hydrocarbon flames and in astrochemical environments.