Energy Transfer and Collisional Deactivation in the Reactions between D3+ Ions and the Hydrocarbons

D+-transfer reactions from D3+ ions to alkanes and alkenes up to C4 have been studied by mass spectrometry in the deuterium pressure range from 0.1 to 1.0 torr and at field strengths between 1.7 and 42 V/cm. Deuteronated ions can, in general, be formed in different states, and all decompose along exothermic patterns. Collisional deactivation at the highest pressures can prevent the dissociation of states with lifetimes longer than 10−8 sec, while kinetic-to-internal energy transfer may contribute to populate those states which lead to faster dissociations.