Addition of a Hydrogen Atom to Acetonitrile by Hydrated Electrons in Nanodroplets

Nanodroplets that contain hydrated electrons provide information complementary to standard radiolysis techniques. Although the reaction of hydrated electrons with acetonitrile was observed in solution 25 years ago, its product has only now been identified in a gas-phase experiment as the hydrogen adduct. The picture shows a solvent-stabilized radical anion, which is suggested as a reactive intermediate.