The negative ion chemistry of nitric oxide in the gas phase

Nitric oxide is not only an important biological molecule with varied indispensable physiological roles but also shows interesting chemical reactivity both in gas-phase and solution phase. Even though it is a small molecule with an extremely low electron affinity, the reactivity of NO in the gas-phase is not just limited to electron-transfer or adduct formation. NO can behave both as an electrophile with closed-shell anions or as a radical with open-shell anions. Its reactivity with open-shell anions is characteristic and varied leading to interesting rearrangements. Nitric oxide anion undergoes spin-forbidden proton transfer with strong acids. Also, the ability of NO to serve both as one-electron or three-electron donor ligand can result in adduct formation or substitution reactions with transition metal complexes. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.