Reactions of carbanions with triplet and singlet molecular oxygen.

The gas phase reactions of carbanions with molecular oxygen in both its ground state (X3 sigma g-) and first electronically excited state (a1 delta g) have been studied by the flowing afterglow technique. Reactions include cleavage processes, charge transfer, hydride transfer, formation of hydroxide ion and processes which involve secondary reactions within a long-lived complex. The mechanisms of the reactions are discussed. The usefulness of molecular oxygen as a reagent for the structural degradation and analysis of gas phase organic anions, including isomeric species, is described.