Electron Attachment to "Naked" and Microsolvated Nucleotide Anions: Detection of Long-Lived Dianions

Abstract

In-flight reduction: In 50 keV collisions between gaseous nucleotide monoanions (e.g., see figure) and sodium vapour, electron transfer from sodium to the anion occurs. Dianions survive the long flight time to the detector (≈ 6 μs) despite being unstable to electron autodetachment. Based on B3LYP6-311 ++ G(2d,p)//PM3 calculations, the electron binding energy of the dianion is negative but becomes positive after internal proton transfer from the sugar to the adenine.