Fundamental Studies

    A large portion of our research involves fundamental studies of ionic reaction intermediates. For example, we study the reaction rates of radical cations and how they are effected by electron withdrawing and electron donating groups. Currently we are trying to obtain fundamental knowledge on the reactivity of phosphenium ions, carbene radical cations, distonic phenyl radical cations, distonic biradical cations, anions and nucleobase radical cations, among others. The Figure below illustrates a dual-cell reaction chamber of one of our instruments with the reactant ion depicted in green and neutral reactant in red. The plot is the first order kinetic plot showing the disappearance of the ion and the appearance of the product.