Only the Cu⁺ coordinated to the π-system of the C≡N group activates upon collision C-H and C-C bonds of nitriles

Collision-induced dissociations of organometallic complexes Cu(RCN)⁺, generated by the reaction of Cu⁺ with linear nitriles in the gas phase, generates products distinct from that of M(RCN)⁺ complexes (M = Fe, Co, Ni), While the gas-phase chemistry of the latter is well-described in terms of an end-on coordination of the type RCN-M⁺, the dissociation products of the RCN/Cu⁺ complexes point to a side-on complexation.