Direct observations of hydrogen bonded fluoride complexes by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

The direct observation of pre-formed hydrogen bonded fluoride complexes by mass spectrometry has been achieved for the first time by fast atom bombardment of the solid and liquid samples. For a series of substituted phenols hydrogen bonded to fluoride it has been found that the substituents affect the apparent stability of the complexes as measured by the relative intensities of the ion peaks.