Temperature-dependent photoelectron spectroscopy of methyl benzoate anions: observation of steric effect in o-methyl benzoate

Temperature-dependent photoelectron spectra of benzoate anion (C6H5CO2(-)) and its three methyl-substituted isomers (o-, m-, p-CH3C6H4CO2(-)) have been obtained using a newly developed low-temperature photoelectron spectroscopy apparatus that features an electrospray source and a cryogenically controlled ion trap. Detachment channels due to removing electrons from the carboxylate group and benzene ring pi electrons were distinctly observed. Well-resolved vibrational structures were obtained in the lower binding energy region due to the OCO bending modes, except for o-CH3C6H4CO2(-), which yielded broad spectra even at the lowest ion trap temperature (18 K). Theoretical calculations revealed a large geometry change in the OCO angles between the anion and neutral ground states, consistent with the broad ground-state bands observed for all species. A strong steric effect was observed between the carboxylate and the methyl group in o-CH3C6H4CO2(-), such that the -CO2(-) group is pushed out of the plane of the benzene ring by approximately 25 degrees and its internal rotational barrier is significantly reduced. The low rotational barrier in o-CH3C6H4CO2(-), which makes it very difficult to be cooled vibrationally, and the strong coupling between the OCO bending and CO2 torsional modes yielded the broad PES spectra for this isomer. It is shown that there is no C-H...O hydrogen bond in o-CH3C6H4CO2(-), and the interaction between the carboxylate and methyl groups in this anion is found to be repulsive in nature.