Characterization of the single photon initiated dissociative rearrangement reaction (SPIDRR) technique and its application in the study of transition metal cation bound organic cluster reactions.

The study of gas-phase ion-molecule reactions has been influential in the investigation of transition metal mediated bond activation and catalysis. This research has recently been advanced by a new method designated the single photon initiated dissociative rearrangement reaction (SPIDRR) technique. SPIDRR measures the microcanonical kinetics for reactions between transition metal cations and neutral organic molecules. By assessing the energy dependence of the microcanonical rate constant, as well as determining product branching fractions and kinetic isotope effects, SPIDRR can establish unique mechanistic and dynamic information. This dissertation will provide a detailed overview of the SPIDRR technique and demonstrate its application in the study of transition metal cation bound organic cluster reactions.