On the assignment of the carbon K-shell spectra of the methyl halides

Electron energy loss spectra of the methyl halides in the region of carbon K-shell excitation have been obtained at higher resolution than those previously reported. The existence of two electronic transitions between 288 and 290 eV in CH₃F is demonstrated. This result conflicts with a recent SCF calculation which suggests that the σ* (C–F) level in CH₃F is unbound and thus predicts the existence of only one electronic transition in this spectral region. Studies of the carbon K-shell spectra of CH₃Br and CD₃Br demonstrate the vibrational origin of some spectral features. These new results support our earlier tentative assignments for the carbon K-shell spectra of the methyl halides.