Chemistry Letters, Vol.46, No.5, 676-679, 2017
Formation of Grignard Reagent-like Complex [CH3-M-I](-) via Oxidative Addition of CH3I on Coinage Metal Anions M- (M = Cu, Ag, Au) in the Gas Phase
Gas-phase reactions of coinage metal anions M- (M = Cu, Ag, Au) with methyl iodide (CH3I) yielded the adduct product MCH3I-. Photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed a Grignard reagent-like structure [CH3-M-I](-) regardless of M. Global reaction route mapping clarified that [CH3-M-I](-) is formed in a highly exothermic process via S(N)2 attack by M- on CH3I followed by I- migration to M.