Structural aspects of long-lived C7H8(2+) dications generated by the electron ionization of toluene

J Phys Chem A. 2006 Mar 9;110(9):2970-8. doi: 10.1021/jp0545288.

Abstract

The structure of the C7H8(2+) dication generated upon electron ionization of toluene is investigated by experimental and theoretical means. For the long-lived C7H8(2+) dication, the experimental findings obtained with a novel SIFT/GIB instrument suggest complete loss of structural integrity corresponding to the toluene structure. Instead, the manifold of C7H8(2+) dications most likely to be formed is assigned to a mixture of the cycloheptatriene dication and ring-protonated benzylium ions.