Reactions of 29 transition metal cations, in the same oxidation state and under the same gas-phase conditions, with sulfur

The reaction between transition metal ions and gaseous S8 forms a series of product ions, (MS(sub y))+, where M = metal ion and y = 4, 8, 10, 12, 16 or 21. The proposed mechanism of the reaction involves the formation of the reactive MS8+ encounter complex which undergoes S-S bond cleavage and rearrangement around the metal. The metals in the third row react twice as fast as metals in the first row and the early transition metals are more reactive than the later ones. All 29 metals except Tc react with S.