Ion chemistry in boron trichloride BCl3

Ionization of boron trichloride by electron impact has been examined by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. The parent ion, BCl3+, and three fragment ions, BCl+, and Cl+, are observed. The total ionization cross section is 1.0 ± 0.1 × 10−15 cm2 between 30 and 60 eV. BCl+ and Cl+ react with neutral BCl3 to yield BCl2+ with bimolecular rates of 5.3 ± 0.5 × 10−10 cm3s−1 and 6.2 ± 0.5 × 10−10 cm3s−1, respectively. BCl2+ does not react with BCl3. Cl− and Cl2− are produced by dissociative attachment of low-energy electrons to BCl3, and Cl2− is found to rapidly react with BCl3 to form BCl4−.