Electron ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to investigate the phenol clusters (PhOH)n of different size from single molecule to large clusters: in coexpansion with He, the dimers n = 2 are mostly generated; in Ar, large species of n ≥ 10 also occur. Besides [(PhOH)n](+•) cluster ion series, hydrated phenol cluster ions [(PhOH)n·xH2O](+•) with up to x = 3 water molecules and dehydrated phenol clusters [(PhOH)n-H2O](+•) were observed. The hydrated phenol series exhibits minima and maxima that are interpreted as evidence for proton transfer between the hydrogen bonded cluster ions of cyclic structures. The proton transfer leads to a water generation within the clusters, and subsequent elimination of the diphenyl ether molecule(s) from the cluster yields the hydrated phenol cluster ions. Alternatively, a water molecule release yields a series of dehydrated phenols, among which the diphenyl ether ion [PhOPh](+•) (n = 2) constitutes the maximum.

J Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry v v i Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Dolejškova 3 18223 Prague Czech Republic

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