The acetamide radical cation, CH3C(=O)NH2•+, and its enol, CH2=C(OH)NH2•+, undergo several unimolecular reactions in the μs time-frame of which decarbonylation is predominant. This reaction produces the ylid ion CH2NH3•+, rather than CH 3NH2•+ [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 109, 4819 (1987)]. A previously proposed mechanism via ion-dipole complexes is confirmed by the present CBS-QB3 calculations. These calculations reveal the existence of a second mechanism which proceeds via the enol ion and the distonic ion •CH2C(=O)NH3+. Both mechanisms can account for previously reported isotopic labeling experiments. Tandem mass spectrometry based experiments do not provide evidence that the non-decomposing acetamide ions rearrange to any significant extent to the more stable enol form. However, this transformation occurs smoothly by interaction with a neutral acetamide molecule ("self-catalysis"). By integration of experimental data (MS/MS/MS and labeling experiments) and ab initio calculations [CBS-Q (RHF/DZP)] three mechanisms for this assisted tautomerization have been traced. In the first mechanism the neutral acetamide component of the dimer ion accepts a C-H proton from its ionic partner and then donates the proton back to the oxygen atom. This is an example of "proton-transport catalysis". In the second mechanism, isomerization takes place within the ionic partner via a conventional 1,3-H shift. The neutral partner serves only to lower the energy of the transition state by ion-dipole attractions. This is an example of the "Spectator" mechanism. In the third mechanism, proton transfer from the ionic partner to its neutral counterpart is followed by back-donation of a hydrogen atom. This is an example of the "Quid-pro-Quo" mechanism. The behavior of the acetamide dimer ion is compared to that of the acetone dimer ion which undergoes only proton-transport catalysis.

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doi.org/10.1255/ejms.696, hdl.handle.net/1765/69096
European Journal of Mass Spectrometry
Department of Neurology

Trikoupis, M., Ruttink, P., Burgers, P., & Terlouw, J. (2004). The decarbonylation of the acetamide radical cation and the enolization of its dimer by self-catalysis. European Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 10(6), 801–811. doi:10.1255/ejms.696