The analysis of collision induced dissociation of rhodium and osmium carbonyl clusters by energy-dependent electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

The derivatization of neutral transition metal carbonyl clusters with an alkoxide anion, [Mn(CO)xOR]- is discussed. The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry technique is used for the purpose. Control of the potential applied to the skimmer cone of the electrospray interface, allows for manipulation of the degree of collision-induced dissociation (CID) between the derivatized cluster ions and the neutral bath gas molecules. The technique is known as Energy Dependent Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (EDESI-MS). The information recorded within each fragmentation map provide a means of extracting data about the appearance energies of each fragment ion and the associated mean bond dissociation energie