Distonic radical cations have been of interest to mass spectrometrists since they were discovered to be common reaction intermediates in unimolecular fragmentation of organic molecular ions. Quantum chemical calculations rationalized this observation based on their great stability compared to many conventional radical cations. Since then, many aspects of their properties and structures have been explored both computationally and experimentally and they have been exploited in studies of reaction intermediates that are uncharged. This presentation focuses on some recent advances on distonic ion research, including comparing their gas-phase and solution reactions, generation of distonic <i>para</i>-benzyne cations, examination of the chemical properties of distonic tetraradical cations, and the development of a dual linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer for gas-phase studies of distonic ions.

<b>Award Address</b> (Frank H. Field and Joe L. Franklin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Mass Spectrometry sponsored by Waters Corp.). Recent studies on distonic mono- and polyradical cations

249th National Meeting (2015)

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Award Address (Frank H. Field and Joe L. Franklin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Mass Spectrometry sponsored by Waters Corp.). Recent studies on distonic mono- and polyradical cations