Formation of hydrogenated boron clusters in an external quadrupole static attraction ion trap

We report the formation of icosahedral B(12)H(8) (+) through ion-molecule reactions of the decaborane ion [B(10)H(x)(+) (x=6-14)] with diborane (B(2)H(6)) molecules in an external quadrupole static attraction ion trap. The hydrogen content n of B(12)H(n)(+) is determined by the analysis of the mass spectrum. The result reveals that B(12)H(8)(+) is the main product. Ab initio calculations indicate that B(12)H(8)(+) preferentially forms an icosahedral structure rather than a quasiplanar structure. The energies of the formation reactions of B(12)H(14)(+) and B(12)H(12)(+) between B(10)H(x)(+) (x=6,8) ions, which are considered to be involved in the formation of B(12)H(n)(+), and a B(2)H(6) molecule are calculated. The calculations of the detachment pathway of H(2) molecules and H atoms from the product ions, B(12)H(14)(+) and B(12)H(12) (+), indicate that the intermediate state has a relatively low energy, enabling the detachment reaction to proceed owing to the sufficient reaction energy. This autodetachment of H(2) accounts for the experimental result that B(12)H(8)(+) is the most abundant product, even though it does not have the lowest energy among B(12)H(n)(+).