Andreas Illies
Professor
University of Nebraska, Ph. D., 1982
Postdoctoral. University of California, Santa Barbara, 1979 - 1984
illieaj@auburn.edu
(334) 844-6968
Physical Chemistry: gas-phase ion chemistry,
odd-electron bonds, bonding and structures, clusters, hydrogen bonding and
electrochemical/electro spray/mass spectrometry.
Our research centers on gas-phase
ion-molecule reactions, chemical bonding within clusters and the structures of
ions. We are particularly interested in elucidation of systems containing an
odd number of electrons, in bonding within clusters and in hydrogen bonding.
Two-Center Three-Electron Containing Systems:
Two-center three-electron (2c-3e) interactions, where two electrons occupy a s orbital and one electron occupies a s* orbital
both of which are localized between two atoms, are of interest. These
interactions are rare relative to even-electron bonds and are not often
encountered. Our interest lies in gas-phase ion-molecule reactions that form
reactive intermediates or stable product ions containing 2c-3e bonds. In
particular we have been studying 2c-3e interactions between the following: S\S, S\X, X\X and X\X' where X represents the halides I, Br, Cl and F. Experiments which
probe the thermochemistry, the atomic connectivity and structure, and
fragmentation dynamics are carried out.
Bonding within Clusters: The structure and
bonding of small gas-phase ions is relevant to atmospheric chemistry and to the
formation of aerosols. In particular, as ions are solvated, they begin to grow
and to bridge the gap between the gas phase and bulk liquids. We are interested
in studying small solvated ions where the first stages of growth are initiated
and where the addition or subtraction of a single solvent molecule can have
large effects on the properties of the cluster.
Hydrogen Bonding: Hydrogen bonding is
essential to biochemistry and the chemistry of aqueous systems. We are
investigating hydrogen bonding involving sulfur, chlorine and fluorine.
Hydrogen bonding to sulfur relates to the hydrogen bonding of cysteine while
comparisons between the bonding to fluorine and chlorine leads to an
understanding of the factors controlling the nature and strengths of the bonds.
Comparisons between reaction rates of hydrogen bound species involving hydrogen
and deuterium relate to isotopic differences in biochemical reactions.
A new project involves electrochemical/electrospray/mass spectrometry. This project is concerned with using electrospray mass spectrometry to elucidate electrochemical reaction mechanisms as well as to study electrochemical deposition and release.
Selected Publications:
Joseph E. King and Andreas J. Illies*, ���Two-Center
Three-Electron Bonds Involving Selenium,���
Invited contribution in Honor of Helmut Schwarz���s 60 birthday. International Journal of Mass
Spectrometry. 228, 429-437 2003
Joseph E. King and Andreas J. Illies*, ���An
Experimental Investigation of Gas Phase Ions of the Form [c-CnH2nS\ICH3] + where n = 2, 3, 4 and
5. Metastable and
Collision-Induced Dissociation Results���
In Press, Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 106, 12248-12251, 2002
Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt, Philip H. Almond, Andreas
J. Illies, Casey C Raymond, Catherine E. Tally "Preparation of Single
Crystals of Binary and Ternary Transition Metal and Uranium Arsenides and
Antimonides from Reactive-Fluxes"
J. of Crystal Growth 217,
250-254 2000.
L. S. Nichols*, A. J. Illies "An Experimental
Study of Ion-Molecule Reactions Involving Dimethyl Sulfide Radical Cations with
Methyl Halides" Journal of the American Chemical Society, 121,
9176, 1999
L. S. Nichols*, A. J. Illies "Experimental and Theoretical
Investigation into the Structural and Thermodynamic Properties of the Mixed
Methyl Halide Association Radical Cations" International Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Processes, Special issue on the occasion of Mike Bowers' 60
Birthday 185/186/187, 413, 1999