Conversion of a UO 2 2+ Precursor to UH + and U + Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Remove Both "yl" Oxo Ligands.

Multiple-stage collision-induced dissociation (CID) of a uranyl propiolate cation, [UO(OC-C≡CH)], can be used to prepare the U-methylidyne species [O═U≡CH] [ , , 796-805]. Here, we report that CID of [O═U≡CH] causes elimination of CO to create [UH], followed by a loss of H to generate U. A feasible, multiple-step pathway for the generation of [UH] was identified using DFT calculations. These results provide the first demonstration that multiple-stage CID can be used to prepare both U and UH directly from a UO precursor for the subsequent investigation of ion-molecule reactivity.