Electron transfer in collisions of dipole-bound anions with polar targets

Charge transfer in collisions between dipole-bound CH3CN− negative ions and the polar target CH3NO2 is examined using a Penning ion trap. A long-lived CH3NO2- ion signal is observed. It is argued that this results from creation of dipole-bound CH3NO2- ions that rapidly evolve into longer-lived ions that have predominantly valence-bound character.