Structure of the vinyldiazomethyl anion and energetic comparison to the cyclic isomers

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of the vinyldiazomethyl anion has been measured. The ion is generated through the reaction of the allyl anion with N(2)O in helium buffer gas in a flowing afterglow source. The spectrum exhibits the vibronic structure of the vinyldiazomethyl radical in its electronic ground state as well as in the first excited state. Electronic structure calculations have been performed for these molecules at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. A Franck-Condon simulation of the X (2)A' state portion of the spectrum has been carried out using the geometries and normal modes of the anion and radical obtained from these calculations. The simulation unambiguously shows that the ions predominantly have an E conformation. The electron affinity (EA) of the radical has been determined to be 1.864 +/- 0.007 eV. Vibrational frequencies of 185 +/- 10 and 415 +/- 20 cm(-1) observed in the spectrum have been identified as in-plane CCN bending and CCC bending modes, respectively, for the X (2)A' state. The spectrum for the A (2)A' state is broad and structureless, reflecting large geometry differences between the anion and the radical, particularly in the CCN angle, as well as vibronic coupling with the X (2)A' state. The DFT calculations have also been used to better understand the mechanism of the allyl anion reaction with N(2)O. Collision-induced dissociation of the structural isomer of the vinyldiazomethyl anion, the 1-pyrazolide ion, has been examined, and energetics of the structural isomers is discussed.     

3s Rydberg and cationic States of pyrazine studied by photoelectron spectroscopy

We have studied 3s(n-1 and pi-1) Rydberg states and D0(n-1) and D1(pi-1) cationic states of pyrazine [1,4-diazabenzene] by picosecond (2 + 1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI), (2 + 1) REMPI photoelectron imaging, He(I) ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and vacuum ultraviolet pulsed field ionization photoelectron spectroscopy (VUV-PFI-PE). The new He(I) photoelectron spectrum of pyrazine in a supersonic jet revealed a considerably finer vibrational structure than a previous photoelectron spectrum of pyrazine vapor. We performed Franck-Condon analysis on the observed photoelectron and REMPI spectra in combination with ab initio density functional theory and molecular orbital calculations to determine the equilibrium geometries in the D0 and 3s(n-1) states. The equilibrium geometries were found to differ slightly between the D0 and 3s states, indicating the influence of a Rydberg electron on the molecular structure. The locations of the D1-D0 and 3s(pi-1)-3s(n-1) conical intersections were estimated. From the line width in the D1 <-- S0 spectrum, we estimated the lifetime of D1 to be 12 fs for pyrazine and 15 fs for fully deuterated pyrazine. A similar lifetime was estimated for the 3s(pi-1) state of pyrazine by REMPI spectroscopy. The vibrational feature of D1 observed in the VUV-PFI-PE measurement differed dramatically from that in the UPS spectrum, which suggests that the high-n Rydberg (ZEKE) states converging to the D1 vibronic state are short-lived due to electronic autoionization to the D0 continuum.     

Vibrational structure of vinyl chloride cation studied by using one-photon zero-kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy

The vibrational structure of vinyl chloride cation, CH(2)CHCl+ (X(2)A' '), has been studied by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) zero-kinetic energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy. Among nine symmetric vibrational modes, the fundamental frequencies of six modes have been determined. The first overtone of the out-of-plane CH(2) twist vibrational mode has been also measured. In addition to these, the combination and overtone bands of the above vibrational modes about 4500 cm(-1) above the ground state have been observed in the ZEKE spectrum. The vibrational band intensities of the ZEKE spectrum can be described approximately by the Franck-Condon factors with harmonic approximation. The ZEKE spectrum has been assigned based on the harmonic frequencies and Franck-Condon factors from theoretical calculations. The ionization energy (IE) of CH(2)CHCl is determined as 80705.5 +/- 2.5 (cm(-1)) or 10.0062 +/- 0.0003 (eV).     

Study of Nb2O(y) (y = 2-5) anion and neutral clusters using anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations

A study combining anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations on the transition metal suboxide series, Nb(2)O(y)(-) (y = 2-5), is described. Photoelectron spectra of the clusters are obtained, and Franck-Condon simulations using calculated anion and neutral structures and frequencies are used to evaluate the calculations and assign transitions observed in the spectra. The spectra, several of which exhibit partially resolved vibrational structure, show an increase in electron affinity with increasing cluster oxidation state. Hole-burning experiments suggest that the photoelectron spectra of both Nb(2)O(2)(-) and Nb(2)O(3)(-) have contributions from more than one structural isomer. Reasonable agreement between experiment and computational results is found among all oxides.     

Pulsed field ionization electron spectroscopy and molecular structure of aluminum uracil

Al-uracil (Al-C4H4N2O2) was synthesized in a laser-vaporization supersonic molecular beam source and studied with pulsed field ionization-zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). The DFT calculations predicted several low-energy Al-uracil isomers with Al binding to the diketo, keto-enol, and dienol tautomers of uracil. The ZEKE spectroscopic measurements of Al-uracil determined the ionization energy of 43 064(5) cm-1 [or 5.340(6) eV] and a vibrational mode of 51 cm-1 for the neutral complex and several vibrational modes of 51, 303, 614, and 739 cm-1 for the ionized species. Combination of the ZEEK spectrum with the DFT and Franck-Condon factor calculations determined the preferred isomeric structure and electronic states of the Al-uracil complex. This isomer is formed by Al binding to the O4 atom of the diketo tautomer of uracil and has a planar Cs symmetry. The ground electronic states of the neutral and ionized species are 2A' ' and 1A', respectively. The 2A' ' neutral state has a slightly shorter Al-O4 distance than the 1A' ion state. However, the 1A' ion state has stronger metal-ligand binding compared to the 2A' ' state. The increased Al-O4 distance from the 2A' ' state to the 1A' state is attributed to the loss of the pi binding interaction between Al and O4 in the singlet ion state, whereas the increased metal-ligand binding strength is due to the additional charge-dipole interaction in the ion that surpasses the loss of the pi orbital interaction.     

Addition of water to Al5O4- determined by anion photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The anion photoelectron spectra of Al5O4- and Al5O5H2- are presented and interpreted within the context of quantum chemical calculations on these species. Experimentally, the electron affinities of these two molecules are determined to be 3.50(5) eV and 3.10(10) eV for the bare and hydrated cluster, respectively. The spectra show at least three electronic transitions crowded into a 1 eV energy window. Calculations on Al5O4- predict a highly symmetric near-planar structure with a singlet ground state. The neutral structure calculated to be most structurally similar to the ground state structure of the anion is predicted to lie 0.15 eV above the ground state structure of the neutral. The lowest energy neutral isomer does not have significant Franck-Condon overlap with the ground state of the anion. Dissociative addition of water to Al5O4- is energetically favored over physisorption. The ground state structure for the Al5O4- +H(2)O product forms when water adds to the central Al atom in Al5O4- with -H migration to one of the neighboring O atoms. Again, the ground state structures for the anion and neutral are very different, and the PE spectrum represents transitions to a higher-lying neutral structure from the ground state anion structure.     

High resolution and low-temperature photoelectron spectroscopy of an oxygen-linked fullerene dimer dianion: C(120)O(2-)

C(120)O comprises two C(60) cages linked by a furan ring and is formed by reactions of C(60)O and C(60). We have produced doubly charged anions of this fullerene dimer (C(120)O(2-)) and studied its electronic structure and stability using photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. High resolution and vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra were obtained at 70 K and at several photon energies. The second electron affinity of C(120)O was measured to be 1.02+/-0.03 eV and the intramolecular Coulomb repulsion was estimated to be about 0.8 eV in C(120)O(2-) on the basis of the observed repulsive Coulomb barrier. A low-lying excited state ((2)B(1)) was also observed for C(120)O(-) at 0.09 eV above the ground state ((2)A(1)). The C(120)O(2-) dianion can be viewed as a single electron on each C(60) ball very weakly coupled. Theoretical calculations showed that the singlet and triplet states of C(120)O(2-) are nearly degenerate and can both be present in the experiment. The computed electron binding energies and excitation energies, as well as Franck-Condon factors, are used to help interpret the photoelectron spectra. A C-C bond-cleaved isomer, C(60)-O-C(60) (2-), was also observed with a higher electron binding energy of 1.54 eV.     

Simulation of photoelectron spectra with anharmonicity fully included: Application to the X 2A2<--X 1A1 band of furan

Using a new unconventional procedure for calculating Franck-Condon factors with anharmonicity fully included the X 2A2<--X 1A1 band in the photoelectron spectrum of furan (and deuterated furan) was simulated at the second-order perturbation theory level. All 21 vibrational modes were considered but, in the end, only 4 are required to accurately reproduce the spectrum. Except for our own recent work on ethylene such calculations have been previously limited to tri- or tetraatomic molecules. Most of the effect of anharmonicity is accounted for in first order, although second-order corrections to the vibrational frequencies are important. Based on these simulations we were able to improve upon and extend previous assignments as well as suggest further measurements.     

Flexible H2O2 in water: electronic structure from photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The effect of hydration on the electronic structure of H(2)O(2) is investigated by liquid-jet photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and ab initio calculations. Experimental valence electron binding energies of the H(2)O(2) orbitals in water are, on average, 1.9 eV red-shifted with respect to the gas-phase molecule. A smaller width of the first peak was observed in the photoelectron spectrum from the solution. Our experiment is complemented by simulated photoelectron spectra, calculated at the ab initio level of theory (with EOM-IP-CCSD and DFT methods), and using path-integral sampling of the ground-state density. The observed shift in ionization energy upon solvation is attributed to a combination of nonspecific electrostatic effects (long-range polarization) and of the specific interactions between H(2)O(2) and H(2)O molecules in the first solvation shell. Changes in peak widths are found to result from merging of the two lowest ionized states of H(2)O(2) in water due to conformational changes upon solvation. Hydration effects on H(2)O(2) are stronger than on the H(2)O molecule. In addition to valence spectra, we report oxygen 1s core-level photoelectron spectra from H(2)O(2)(aq), and observed energies and spectral intensities are discussed qualitatively.     

Photoelectron spectroscopic study of the oxyallyl diradical

The photoelectron spectrum of the oxyallyl (OXA) radical anion has been measured. The radical anion has been generated in the reaction of the atomic oxygen radical anion (O(?-)) with acetone. Three low-lying electronic states of OXA have been observed in the spectrum. Electronic structure calculations have been performed for the triplet states ((3)B(2) and (3)B(1)) of OXA and the ground doublet state ((2)A(2)) of the radical anion using density functional theory (DFT). Spectral simulations have been carried out for the triplet states based on the results of the DFT calculations. The simulation identifies a vibrational progression of the CCC bending mode of the (3)B(2) state of OXA in the lower electron binding energy (eBE) portion of the spectrum. On top of the (3)B(2) feature, however, the experimental spectrum exhibits additional photoelectron peaks whose angular distribution is distinct from that for the vibronic peaks of the (3)B(2) state. Complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method and second-order perturbation theory based on the CASSCF wave function (CASPT2) have been employed to study the lowest singlet state ((1)A(1)) of OXA. The simulation based on the results of these electronic structure calculations establishes that the overlapping peaks represent the vibrational ground level of the (1)A(1) state and its vibrational progression of the CO stretching mode. The (1)A(1) state is the lowest electronic state of OXA, and the electron affinity (EA) of OXA is 1.940 ± 0.010 eV. The (3)B(2) state is the first excited state with an electronic term energy of 55 ± 2 meV. The widths of the vibronic peaks of the X? (1)A(1) state are much broader than those of the a? (3)B(2) state, implying that the (1)A(1) state is indeed a transition state. The CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations suggest that the (1)A(1) state is at a potential maximum along the nuclear coordinate representing disrotatory motion of the two methylene groups, which leads to three-membered-ring formation, i.e., cyclopropanone. The simulation of b? (3)B(1) OXA reproduces the higher eBE portion of the spectrum very well. The term energy of the (3)B(1) state is 0.883 ± 0.012 eV. Photoelectron spectroscopic measurements have also been conducted for the other ion products of the O(?-) reaction with acetone. The photoelectron imaging spectrum of the acetylcarbene (AC) radical anion exhibits a broad, structureless feature, which is assigned to the X? (3)A' state of AC. The ground ((2)A') and first excited ((2)A') states of the 1-methylvinoxy (1-MVO) radical have been observed in the photoelectron spectrum of the 1-MVO ion, and their vibronic structure has been analyzed.     

Photoelectron imaging spectroscopy of nitroethane anions

We present low-energy velocity map photoelectron imaging results for bare and Ar solvated nitroethane anions. We report an improved value for the adiabatic electron affinity of nitroethane of (191 ± 6) meV which is used to obtain a C-NO(2) bond dissociation energy of (0.589 ± 0.019) eV in nitroethane anion. We assign a weak feature at (27 ± 5) meV electron binding energy to the dipole-bound anion state of nitroethane. Photoelectron angular distributions exhibit increasing anisotropy with increasing kinetic energies. The main contributions to the photoelectron spectrum of nitroethane anion can be assigned to the vibrational modes of the nitro group. Transitions involving torsional motion around the CN bond axis lead to strong spectral congestion. Interpretation of the photoelectron spectrum is assisted by ab initio calculations and Franck-Condon simulations.     

Spectroscopic characterization of the ground and low-lying electronic states of Ga2N via anion photoelectron spectroscopy

Anion photoelectron spectra of Ga(2)N(-) were measured at photodetachment wavelengths of 416 nm(2.978 eV), 355 nm(3.493 eV), and 266 nm(4.661 eV). Both field-free time-of-flight and velocity-map imaging methods were used to collect the data. The field-free time-of-flight data provided better resolution of the features, while the velocity-map-imaging data provided more accurate anisotropy parameters for the peaks. Transitions from the ground electronic state of the anion to two electronic states of the neutral were observed and analyzed with the aid of electronic structure calculations and Franck-Condon simulations. The ground-state band was assigned to a transition between linear ground states of Ga(2)N(-)(X (1)Sigma(g) (+)) and Ga(2)N(X (2)Sigma(u) (+)), yielding the electron affinity of Ga(2)N, 2.506+/-0.008 eV. Vibrationally resolved features in the ground-state band were assigned to symmetric and antisymmetric stretch modes of Ga(2)N, with the latter allowed by vibronic coupling to an excited electronic state. The energy of the observed excited neutral state agrees with that calculated for the A (2)Pi(u) state, but the congested nature of this band in the photoelectron spectrum is more consistent with a transition to a bent neutral state.     

Zero kinetic energy spectroscopy of hydroquinone-water (1:1) complex: a probe for conformer assignment

Zero kinetic energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy of the hydroquinone-water (HQW) complex was carried out to characterize its S(1)-S(0) resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectrum in terms of the cis and trans conformers. The ZEKE spectra of the hydroquinone isomers show differences in the Franck-Condon (FC) activity of a few ring modes, viz., modes 15, 9b, and 6b, due to the different symmetries of the two isomers. These modes were used as a "diagnostic tool" to carry out the categorical assignment of the REMPI spectrum of the HQW complex. It was found that the FC activity of these diagnostic modes in the cationic ground state (D(0)) of the water complex is similar as that of the monomer. The two lowest energy transitions in the REMPI spectrum of the water complex, 33,175 and 33,209 cm(-1), were reassigned as the band origins of the cis and trans hydroquinone-water complexes, which is opposite of the previous assignment. The intermolecular stretching mode (sigma) of the complex shows a long progression, up to v(')=4, in the cationic ground state and is strongly coupled to other observed ring modes. The Franck-Condon factors for different members in the progression were calculated using the potential energy surfaces computed ab initio. These agree well with the observed intensity patterns in the progression. The ionization potential of the trans and cis complexes was determined to be 60,071+/-4 and 60,024+/-4 cm(-1), respectively.     

Anion photoelectron imaging of deprotonated thymine and cytosine

We report the anion photoelectron spectra of deprotonated thymine and cytosine at 3.496 eV photodetachment energy using velocity-mapped imaging. The photoelectron spectra of both species exhibit bands resulting from detachment transitions between the anion ground state and the ground state of the neutral radical. Franck-Condon simulations identify the anion isomers that contribute to the observed photoelectron spectrum. For both thymine and cytosine, the photoelectron spectra are consistent with anions formed by removal of a proton from the N atom that normally attaches to the sugar in the nucleotide (N1). For deprotonated thymine, the photoelectron spectrum shows a band due to a ring breathing vibration excited during the photodetachment transition. The electron affinity for the dehydrogenated thymine radical is determined as 3.250 +/- 0.015 eV. For deprotonated cytosine, the photoelectron spectrum lacks any resolved structure and the electron affinity of the dehydrogenated cytosine radical is determined to be 3.037 +/- 0.015 eV. By combining the electron affinity with previously measured gas phase acidities of thymine and cytosine, we determine the bond dissociation energy for the N-H bond that is broken.     

Structures and vibrations of Nb3O and Nb3O-: a density functional study

Density functional calculations of neutral and anionic niobium trimer monoxides are presented. The calculations were performed employing scalar quasirelativistic effective core potentials. In order to test the accuracy of the used effective core potentials in the framework of density functional theory the pulsed field ionization-zero electron kinetic energy photoelectron spectrum of Nb(3)O was simulated and compared to experiment. Different isomers of Nb(3)O and Nb(3)O(-) were studied in order to determine the ground state structures. For both neutral and anionic systems a planar C(2v) structure with an edge-bound oxygen atom was found as a ground state. Equilibrium structure parameters, harmonic frequencies, and adiabatic electron affinity are reported. The calculated electron affinity and frequencies are in good agreement with the available experimental data obtained recently from vibrationally resolved negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy.     

Metastable states in NO2+ probed with Auger spectroscopy

High-resolution N 1s and O 1s photoelectron spectra (PES) of NO are presented together with spectra of the subsequent Auger decay. The PES are analyzed by taking spin-orbit splitting of the (2)Π ground state into account providing detailed information on equilibrium distances, vibrational energies, and lifetime widths of the core-ionized states. In the Auger electron spectra (AES) transitions to five metastable dicationic final states are observed, with two of them previously unobserved. A Franck-Condon analysis of the vibrational progressions belonging to these transitions provides detailed information on the potential-energy curves of the dicationic final states as well as on the relative Auger rates. The present calculations of the potential-energy curves of NO(2+) agree well with the experimental results and allow an assignment of the two hitherto unresolved Auger transitions to excited states of NO(2+), C(2)Σ(+)and c(4)Π.     

Inelastic X-ray scattering and vibrational effects at the K-edges of gaseous N2, N2O, and CO2

We report non-resonant inelastic X-ray scattering experiments of several gaseous samples in the inner-shell excitation energy range. The experimental near-edge spectra from all the K-edges of N(2), N(2)O, and CO(2) including the momentum transfer dependence are presented. The results are analyzed using density functional theory calculations that accurately reproduce the experimental spectral features. We observe vibrational effects in the measured spectrum and in the calculations the atomic motion is modeled using the Franck-Condon approximation and the linear coupling model. Our findings show that vibrational effects cannot be neglected in the analysis of high resolution inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopy. The results also support the validity of the transition potential approximation for calculating core excited state potential energy surfaces.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of charge transfer and deuterium ion transfer between D2O+ and C2H4

The charge transfer and deuterium ion transfer reactions between D(2)O(+) and C(2)H(4) have been studied using the crossed beam technique at relative collision energies below one electron volt and by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both direct and rearrangement charge transfer processes are observed, forming C(2)H(4) (+) and C(2)H(3)D(+), respectively. Independent of collision energy, deuterium ion transfer accounts for approximately 20% of the reactive collisions. Between 22 and 36 % of charge transfer collisions occur with rearrangement. In both charge transfer processes, comparison of the internal energy distributions of products with the photoelectron spectrum of C(2)H(4) shows that Franck-Condon factors determine energy disposal in these channels. DFT calculations provide evidence for transient intermediates that undergo H/D migration with rearrangement, but with minimal modification of the product energy distributions determined by long range electron transfer. The cross section for charge transfer with rearrangement is approximately 10(3) larger than predicted from the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus isomerization rate in transient complexes, suggesting a nonstatistical mechanism for H/D exchange. DFT calculations suggest that reactive trajectories for deuterium ion transfer follow a pathway in which a deuterium atom from D(2)O(+) approaches the pi-cloud of ethylene along the perpendicular bisector of the C-C bond. The product kinetic energy distributions exhibit structure consistent with vibrational motion of the D-atom in the bridged C(2)H(4)D(+) product perpendicular to the C-C bond. The reaction quantitatively transforms the reaction exothermicity into internal excitation of the products, consistent with mixed energy release in which the deuterium ion is transferred in a configuration in which both the breaking and the forming bonds are extended.