Conversion of a UO 2 2+ Precursor to UH + and U + Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Remove Both "yl" Oxo Ligands.

Multiple-stage collision-induced dissociation (CID) of a uranyl propiolate cation, [UO 2 (O 2 C-C≡CH)] + , can be used to prepare the U-methylidyne species [O═U≡CH] + [ J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2019 , 30 , 796-805]. Here, we report that CID of [O═U≡CH] + causes elimination of CO to create [UH] + , followed by a loss of H • to generate U + . A feasible, multiple-step pathway for the generation of [UH] + was identified using DFT calculations. These results provide the first demonstration that multiple-stage CID can be used to prepare both U + and UH + directly from a UO 2 2+ precursor for the subsequent investigation of ion-molecule reactivity.