Proton Migration in Clusters Consisting of Protonated Pyridine Solvated by Water Molecules

Proton transfer (PT) from protonated pyridine to water molecules is observed after excitation of microhydrated protonated pyridine (Py) clusters PyH+(H2O)(n) (n=0-5) is induced by a single collision with an Ar atom at high incident velocity (95x10(3)ms(-1)). Besides the fragmentation channel associated with the evaporation of water molecules, the charged-fragment mass spectrum shows competition between the production of the PyH+ ion (or its corresponding charged fragments) and the production of H+(H2O) or H+(H2O)(2) ions. The increase in the production of protonated water fragments as a function of the number of H2O molecules in the parent cluster ion as well sd the observation of a stable H+(H2O)(2) fragment, even in the case of the dissociation of PyH+(H2O)(2), are evidence of the crucial role of PT in the relaxation process, even for a small number of solvating water molecules.