Electron capture induced dissociation of water embedded nucleotide anions

We have studied fragmentation of the hydrated nucleotide anion adenosine 5'-monophosphate after collisions with neutral sodium atoms. Regardless of the initial number (≤ 16) of water molecules attached to the ion, dianion formation always leads to water evaporation as well as loss of a single hydrogen atom, possibly from the adenine part. This damaging effect becomes more important as the number of initially attached water molecules increases, which is just the opposite to the protective behavior observed for collision induced dissociation processes without electron transfer.