Association of C3H6 to aluminum cluster anions

Motivated by the unique chemistry of aluminum cluster anions, studies of their reactions with a model alkene, propene, were conducted in a fast-flow-tube apparatus. Under moderate concentrations of propene, only Al12- was found to be reactive. At higher propene concentrations, Al15-, Al18-, and Al21- were also found to react. Electronic structure studies for Aln-(n=7-14) were carried out using a first principles density functional approach. The results are considered in terms of the empirical rules, recently proposed by Chrétien et al. to account for alkene adsorption on metal clusters. Finally, the prospect of exploring further chemistry involving metal cluster additions to alkenes utilizing AlnIx- clusters is considered.