Hydration process of Na2- in small water clusters: photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical study of Na2- (H2O)n

Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) of Na2- (H2O)n (n < or = 6) was investigated to examine the solvation of sodium aggregates in small water clusters. The PES bands for the transitions from the anion to the neutral ground and first excited states derived from Na2 (1(1)Sigmag+) and Na2 (1(3)Sigmau+) shifted gradually to the blue, and those to the higher-excited states correlated to the 3(2)S + 3(2)P asymptote dropped down rapidly to the red and almost degenerated on the 1(3)Sigmau+-type band at n = 4. Quantum chemical calculations for n up to 3 showed that the spectra can be ascribed to structures where one of the Na atoms is selectively hydrated. From the electron distributions, it is found that the Na- -Na+(H2O)n- -type electronic state grows with increasing cluster size, which can be regarded as a sign of the solvation of Na2- with ionization of the hydrated Na.     

Time-resolved photoion and photoelectron imaging of NO(2)

Time-resolved photoion and photoelectron velocity mapped images from NO(2) excited close to its first dissociation limit [to NO(X(2)Pi) + O((3)P(2))] have been recorded in a two colour pump-probe experiment, using the frequency-doubled and frequency-tripled output of a regeneratively amplified titanium-sapphire laser. At least three processes are responsible for the observed transient signals; a negative pump-probe signal (corresponding to a 266 nm pump), a very short-lived transient close to the cross-correlation of the pump and probe pulses but on the 400 nm pump side, and a longer-lived positive pump-probe signal that exhibits a signature of wavepacket motion (oscillations). These transients have two main origins; multiphoton excitation of the Rydberg states of NO(2) by both 266 and 400 nm light, and electronic relaxation in the 1(2)B(2) state of NO(2), which leads to a quasi-dissociated NO(2) high in the 1(2)A(1) electronic ground state and just below the dissociation threshold. The wavepacket motion that we observe is ascribed to states exhibiting free rotation of the O atom about the NO moiety. These states, which are common for loosely bound systems such as a van der Waals complex but unusual for a chemically-bound molecule, have previously been observed in the frequency domain by optical double resonance spectroscopy but never before in the time domain.     

Studies of adsorbed molecules by X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD)

The angular intensity distribution of photoelectrons (or Augerelectrons) with high kinetic energy (> 400 eV), emitted from atoms of adsorbed molecules on single crystal surfaces, may exhibit pronounced peaks that are due to the high cross section for forward scattering by nearest neighbor atoms. This well-known effect can be utilized to study the orientation of bond axes of such molecules relative to the surface normal if they have the same orientation. The molecules should preferably be located in identical bonding sites but long range order not required. Atom-specific photoelectrons are excited by photons from a laboratory X-ray source or a synchrotron and analyzed for their spatial distribution by rotating the sample. For an ordered adsorbed layer of high coverage it is possible to observe also inter-molecular forward scattering peaks that are related to the registry of the layer. Molecules such as CO, N₂, C₂H₄, CH₃O and C₂H₄O have been studied in this fashion. Several of these results will be reviewed and discussed.     

CS2N3(-)-containing pseudohalide species: an experimental and theoretical study

The first structural reports of anhydrous salts containing the CS2N3 moiety are presented. The new M(+)CS2N3- species (M = NH4 (1), (CH3)4N (2), Cs (3), K (4)) were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman), as well as multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 14N NMR). Moreover, the solid-state structures of NH4CS2N3 (1) [orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 10.6787(1) A, b = 6.8762(1) A, c = 15.2174(2) A, V = 1117.40(2) A3, Z = 8] and (H4C)4NCS2N3 (2) [monoclinic, P2(1)/m, a = 5.9011(1) A, b = 7.3565(2) A, c = 10.9474(3) A, beta = 91.428(1) degrees, V = 475.09(2) A3, Z = 2] were determined using X-ray diffraction techniques. The covalent compound CH3CS2N3 (5) was prepared by the reaction of methyl iodide with sodium azidodithiocarbonate and was characterized by vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman), multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 14N), and X-ray diffraction techniques [monoclinic, P2(1)/m, a = 5.544(1) A, b = 6.4792(7) A, c = 7.629(1) A, beta = 105.53(2) degrees, V = 264.06(7) A3, Z = 2]. Furthermore, the gas-phase structure of 5 was calculated (MPW1PW91/cc-pVTZ) and found to be in very good agreement with the experimentally determined structure. Improved synthetic routes for the recently reported dipseudohalogen (CS2N3)2 and interpseudohalogen CS2N3CN (6) are described, and the calculated gas-phase structure of 6 was compared with the experimentally determined structure (X-ray). The vibrational spectra of 6 and HCS2N3 (7) are also reported. Furthermore, several plausible isomers for 7 were calculated in an attempt to rationalize the experimentally observed structure which has N-H and not S-H connectivity. The lowest energy isomer for 7 is in agreement with the experimentally observed structure, and the Br?nsted acidity was calculated at the MPW1PW91/cc-pVTZ level of theory. The unknown CSe2N3- anion (8) was also investigated both theoretically and experimentally, and the structure and vibrational data for the unknown CTe2N3- anion (9) were investigated by quantum-chemical calculations using a quasi-relativistic pseudopotential for Te (ECP46MWB) and a cc-pVTZ basis set for C and N. The gas-phase structure of 9 is predicted to be that of a five-membered ring in analogy to the sulfur and selenium analogues.     

Relaxation of DF(v = 1) by various polyatomic molecules

By means of the technique of laser-induced fluorescence, the room-temperature vibrational relaxation of DF(v = 1) has been studied in the presence of several polyatomic chaperones. The rate coefficients obtained [in units of (μ;sec·torr)^?1] are CH₄, 0.22; C₂H₆, 0.61; C₄H₁₀, 1.26; C₂H₂, 4.0 × 10^?2; C₂H₂F₂, 1.86 × 10^?2; C₂H₄, 0.175; CH₃F, 0.36; CF₃H, 1.95 × 10^?2; CF₄, 1.0 × 10^?3; CBrF₃, 5.6 × 10^?4; NF₃, 5.1 × 10^?4; SO₂, 1.27 × 10^?2; and BF₃, 7.1 × 10^?3. Results are also reported for vibrational relaxation rate coefficients for HF(v = 1) in the presence of the following chaperones: CH₄, 2.6 × 10^?2; C₂H₆, 5.9 × 10^?2; C₃H₈, 8.4 × 10^?2; and C₄H₁₀, 0.128. A comparison of DF and HF results indicates that for deactivation by C_nH_n+2, rate coefficients for DF are approximately an order of magnitude larger than for HF. The deactivation rate coefficient of DF(v = 1) by CH₄ was found to decrease with increasing temperature between 300 and 740°K.     

Dynamics of charge-transfer-to-solvent precursor states in I- (water)n (n = 3-10) clusters studied with photoelectron imaging

The dynamics of charge-transfer-to-solvent states are studied in I- (H2O)(n=3-10) clusters and their deuterated counterparts using time-resolved photoelectron imaging. The photoelectron spectra for clusters with n > or = 5 reveal multiple time scales for dynamics after their electronic excitation. An increase in the vertical detachment energy (VDE) by several hundred millielectronvolts on a time scale of approximately 1 ps is attributed to stabilization of the excess electron, primarily through rearrangement of the solvent molecules, but a contribution to this stabilization from motion of the I atom cannot be ruled out. The VDE drops by approximately 50 meV on a time scale of tens of picoseconds; this is attributed to loss of the neutral iodine atom. Finally, the pump-probe signal decays with a time constant of 60 ps-3 ns, increasing with cluster size. This decay is commensurate with the growth of very slow electrons and is attributed to autodetachment. Smaller clusters (n = 3, 4) display simpler dynamics. Anisotropy parameters are reported for clusters n = 4-9.     

Time-resolved photoelectron imaging of large anionic methanol clusters: (methanol)n-(n approximately 145-535)

The dynamics of an excess electron in size-selected methanol clusters is studied via pump-probe spectroscopy with resolution of approximately 120 fs. Following excitation, the excess electron undergoes internal conversion back to the ground state with lifetimes of 260-175 fs in (CH3OH)n- (n=145-535) and 280-230 fs in (CD3OD)n- (n=210-390), decreasing with increasing cluster size. The clusters then undergo vibrational relaxation on the ground state on a time scale of 760+/-250 fs. The excited state lifetimes for (CH3OH)n- clusters extrapolate to a value of 157+/-25 fs in the limit of infinite cluster size.     

A photoelectron spectroscopic and theoretical study of B16- and B16(2-): an all-boron naphthalene

The structure and chemical bonding of B16- were studied using ab initio calculations and photoelectron spectroscopy. Its global minimum is found to be a quasi-planar and elongated structure (C2h). Addition of an electron to B16- resulted in a perfectly planar and closed shell B16(2-) (D2h), which is shown to possess 10 pi electrons with a pi-bonding pattern similar to that of naphthalene and can thus be considered as an "all-boron naphthalene", a new member in the growing family of hydrocarbon analogues of boron clusters.     

Solvation of O(2)(-) and O(4)(-) by p-difluorobenzene and p-xylene studied by photoelectron spectroscopy

Anion photoelectron spectra of the O(2)(-) . arene and O(4)(-) . arene complexes with p-xylene and p-difluorobenzene are presented and analyzed with the aid of calculations on the anions and corresponding neutrals. Relative to the adiabatic electron affinity of O(2), the O(2)(-) . arene spectra are blueshifted by 0.75-1 eV. Solvation energy alone does not account for this shift, and it is proposed that a repulsive portion of the neutral potential energy surface is accessed in the detachment, resulting in dissociative photodetachment. O(2)(-) is found to interact more strongly with the p-difluorobenzene than the p-xylene. The binding motif involves the O(2)(-) in plane with the arene, interacting via electron donation along nearby C-H bonds. A peak found at 4.36(2) eV in the photoelectron spectrum of O(2)(-) . p-difluorobenzene (p-DFB) is tentatively attributed to the charge transfer state, O(2)(-) . p-DFB(+). Spectra of O(4)(-) . arene complexes show less blueshift in electron binding energy relative to the spectrum of bare O(4)(-), which itself undergoes dissociative photodetachment. The striking similarity between the profiles of the O(4)(-) . arene complexes with the O(4)(-) spectrum suggests that the O(4)(-) molecule remains intact upon complex formation, and delocalization of the charge across the O(4)(-) molecule results in similar structures for the anion and neutral complexes.     

X-ray photoelectron spectra and structure of 2-(2-phenylhydrazono) acetoacetanilide

2-(2-Phenylhydrazono)acetoacetanilide, itsN-methyl derivatives, and model compounds were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chemical shifts were obtained from the¹³C NMR spectra. A correlation between the calculated charges, the binding energies on N atoms, and the¹³C NMR chemical shifts was found. The analysis of the XPS data and the¹³C NMR chemical shifts led to the conclusion that crystalline 2-(2-phenylhydrazono)acetoacetanilide exists mainly in the oxo hydrazone form. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 488–491, March, 1999.     

Stabilization of the P(CF(3))(2)(-) ion as a reversible CS(2) adduct, [P(CF(3))(2)CS(2)](-), and its potential use as a nucleophilic P(CF(3))(2)(-) source: synthesis and structure of [18-crown-6-K][P(C(6)F(5))(2)CS(2)

The bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphanide ion, P(CF(3))(2)(-), decomposes slowly above -30 degrees C in CH(2)Cl(2) and THF solution. An increase of the thermal stability of the P(CF(3))(2)(-) moiety is observed if excess CS(2) is added. The P(CF(3))(2)(-) moiety is stabilized because of the formation of the bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphanodithioformate anion. Solutions of a [P(CF(3))(2)CS(2)](-) salt still act as a source of P(CF(3))(2)(-), even in the presence of excess of CS(2). The stable compound [18-crown-6-K][P(CF(3))(2)CS(2)] was characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy in combination with quantum chemical calculations. The thermally unstable P(C(6)F(5))(2)(-) ion decomposes even at -78 degrees C in solution giving polymeric material. The intermediate formation of the bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphanide anion in the presence of excess of CS(2) allows the isolation of [18-crown-6-K][P(C(6)F(5))(2)CS(2)]. The novel compound crystallizes with one solvent molecule CH(2)Cl(2) in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 1151.8(1) pm, b = 1498.1(2) pm, c = 2018.2(2) pm, beta = 102.58(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Optimized geometric parameters of the [P(C(6)F(5))(2)CS(2)](-) ion at the B3PW91/6-311G(d) level of theory are in excellent agreement with the experimental values.     

Comprehensive photoelectron spectroscopic study of anionic clusters of anthracene and its alkyl derivatives: electronic structures bridging molecules to bulk

The evolution of the electronic structure of molecular aggregates is investigated using anion photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy for anionic clusters of anthracene (Ac) and its alkyl derivatives: 1-methylanthracene (1MA), 2-methylanthracene (2MA), 9-methylanthracene (9MA), 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA), and 2-tert-butylanthracene (2TBA). For their monomer anions (n=1), electron affinities are confined to the range from 0.47 to 0.59 eV and are well reproduced by density functional theory calculations, showing the isoelectronic character of these molecules. For cluster anions (n=2-100) of Ac and 2MA, two types of isomers I and II coexist over a wide size range: isomers I and II-1 (4< or =n<30) or isomers I and II-2 (n> or = approximately 40 for Ac and n> or = approximately 55 for 2MA). However, for the other alkyl-substituted Ac cluster anions (i.e., 1MA, 9MA, DMA, and 2TBA), only isomer I is exclusively formed, and neither isomer II-1 nor II-2 is observed. The vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of isomer I in all the anionic clusters depend almost linearly on n(-1/3). In contrast, the VDEs of isomers II-1 (n> or =14) and II-2 (n=40-100), appeared only in Ac and 2MA cluster anions, remain constant with n and are approximately 0.5 eV lower than those of isomer I. The PE spectra revealed the characteristics of each isomer: isomer I possesses a monomeric anion core that is gradually embedded into the interior of the cluster with increasing n. On the other hand, isomers II-1 and II-2 possess a multimeric (perhaps tetrameric) anion core, but they differ in the number of layers from which they are made up; monolayer (isomer II-1) and multilayers (isomer II-2) of a two-dimensionally ordered, finite herringbone-type structure, in which electron attachment produces only little geometrical rearrangement. Moreover, the agreement of the constant VDEs of isomer II-2 with the bulk data demonstrates the largely localized nature of the electronic polarization around the excess charge in a crystal-like environment, where about 50 molecules provide a charge stabilization energy comparable to the bulk.     

Interaction of Co(m)O(-) (m = 1-3) with water: anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations

We investigated the reactions between cobalt-oxides and water molecules using photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations. It has been confirmed by both experimental observation and theoretical calculations that dihydroxide anions, Co(m)(OH)(2)(-) (m = 1-3), were formed when Co(m)O(-) clusters interact with the first water molecule. Addition of more water molecules produced solvated dihydroxide anions, Co(m)(OH)(2)(H(2)O)(n)(-) (m = 1-3). Hydrated dihydroxide anions, Co(m)(OH)(2)(H(2)O)(n)(-), are more stable than their corresponding hydrated metal-oxide anions, Co(m)O(H(2)O)(n+1)(-).     

Strength of the PtCS2 bond in Pt(PPh3)2(CS2)

The enthalpy of the reaction: Pt(PPh₃)₂(CH₂CH₂)(cryst.) + CS₂(g) → Pt(PPh₃)₂(CS₂)(cryst.) + CH₂CH₂(g) has been determined as ΔH = ? 4.40 ± 2.2 kJ mol^?1 from solution calorimetry, and the bond dissociation energy D(PtCS₂) shown to be slightly greater than D(PtC₂H₄).     

Electron beam reduction of cubic Y-doped ZrO2(100): A study by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Electron beam reduction of cubic Y(III)-doped ZrO₂(100) has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the initial stages of irradiation with 2-keV electrons oxygen loss is accompanied by specific reduction of Zr(IV) to Zr(0) without concomitant reduction of Y(III). The cross section for oxygen desorption is estimated to be 3.9 × 10⁻²⁰ cm². Surface stoichiometry is restored by argon-ion bombardment.     

Resonant 2-photon ionization study of the conformation and the binding of water molecules to 2-phenylethanethiol (PhCH2CH2SH)

The structures of 2-phenylethanethiol (PET, PhCH(2)CH(2)SH) and its 1:1 water clusters have been studied using resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy including band contour analysis and UV-UV holeburning, combined with extensive ab initio calculations on ground and excited states. The most populated conformer, labeled Ggpi, has a gauche arrangement about the SCCC and HSCC bonds that permits a stabilizing SH...dpi type of hydrogen bond. The other observed conformer, Ag, is anti with respect to the SCCC bond. In the dominant 1:1 water cluster, a water molecule binds to the Ggpi conformer via an OH...S hydrogen bond and two significant CH...O interactions. There is also evidence for water binding to conformer Ag with a similar arrangement, and for a second Ggpi cluster where water inserts between the SH and the aromatic ring. The additional interactions to the water molecules result in net D(e) binding energies approximately double those resulting from a single thiol-water hydrogen bond. The (1)(pi,pi(*)) excited state lifetimes in the bare molecules are very short because of internal conversion to a dissociative (1)(n,pi(*)) state related to the thiol. In the dominant Gw(1) cluster, the lifetime is significantly increased from <1 to approximately 4 ns. Hydrogen bonding to the thiol, which raises the energy of the dissociative (1)(n,pi(*)) state, accounts for this behavior.     

Stark-assisted population control of coherent CS(2) 4f and 5p Rydberg wave packets studied by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

A two-color (3+1(')) pump-probe scheme is employed to investigate Rydberg wave packet dynamics in carbon disulfide (CS(2) (*)). The state superpositions are created within the 4f and 5p Rydberg manifolds by three photons of the 400 nm pump pulse, and their temporal evolution is monitored with femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy using an 800 nm ionizing probe pulse. The coherent behavior of the non-stationary superpositions are observed through wavepacket revivals upon ionization to either the upper (12) or lower (32) spin-orbit components of CS(2) (+). The results show clearly that the composition of the wavepacket can be efficiently controlled by the power density of the excitation pulse over a range from 500 GWcm(2) to 10 TWcm(2). The results are consistent with the anticipated ac-Stark shift for 400 nm light and demonstrate an effective method for population control in molecular systems. Moreover, it is shown that Rydberg wavepackets can be formed in CS(2) with excitation power densities up to 10 TWcm(2) without significant fragmentation. The exponential 1e population decay (T(1)) of specific excited Rydberg states are recovered by analysis of the coherent part of the signal. The dissociation lifetimes of these states are typically 1.5 ps. However, a region exhibiting a more rapid decay ( approximately 800 fs) is observed for states residing in the energy range of 74 450-74 550 cm(-1), suggestive of an enhanced surface crossing in this region.     

On the simulation of photoelectron spectra complicated by conical intersections: higher-order effects and hot bands in the photoelectron spectrum of triazolide (CH)2N3(-)

We report simulated photoelectron spectra for 1,2,3-triazolide (CH)(2)N(3)(-), which reveal the vibronic energy levels of the neutral radical 1,2,3-triazolyl, (CH)(2)N(3). The spectral simulation using a quasidiabatic Hamiltonian H(d) comprised of polynomials through 4th order (thereby extending conventional quadratic expansions), is compared to both the experimental spectrum and a standard Franck-Condon (adiabatic) simulation. The quartic H(d) is far superior to the quadratic H(d), reproducing the main features of the experimental spectrum and allowing for their subsequent assignment. The contributions from excited anion states successfully reproduce the observed vibronic transitions to the red of the assigned band origin of the neutral species. The algorithmic extensions required for the determination of these hot band contributions to the total spectrum are discussed. Convergence of the spectral envelope with respect to the vibronic basis, including both the principal and hot bands, required more than 10(9) terms.     

Interpretation of the photoelectron spectra of FeS(2)(-) by a multiconfiguration computational approach

The ground states of FeS(2) and FeS(2)(-), and several low-lying excited electronic states of FeS(2) that are responsible for the FeS(2)(-) photoelectron spectrum, are calculated. At the B3LYP level an open, quasi-linear [SFeS](-) conformation is found as the most stable structure, which is confirmed at the ab initio CASPT2 computational level. Both the neutral and the anionic unsaturated complexes possess high-spin electronic ground states. For the first time a complete assignment of the photoelectron spectrum of FeS(2)(-) is proposed. The lowest energy band in this spectrum is ascribed to an electron detachment from the two highest-lying 3dpi antibonding orbitals (with respect to the iron-sulfur bonding) of iron. The next-lowest experimental band corresponds to an electron removal from nonbonding, nearly pure sulfur orbitals. The two highest bands in the spectra are assigned as electron detachments from pi and sigma bonding mainly sulfur orbitals.