Solvation of the Li+-Br--Li+ triple ion in the gas phase

The solvation of the Li+-Br--Li+ triple ion with oxygen-donor Lewis bases was investigated in the gas phase through Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry. In every step of solvation, vibrational predissociation competed with the association processes. The association-to-predissociation branching ratio varied with the salt binding energy, solvent binding energy, heat capacity, steric hindrance, and conformational change of solvent.