Selective bond breaking in beta-D-ribose by gas-phase electron attachment around 8 eV

Electron attachment experiments are carried out on the beta-d-ribose molecule in the gas phase for the energy region around 8 eV, and clear fragmentation products are observed for different mass values. A computational analysis of the relevant dynamics is also carried out for the beta-d-ribose in both the furanosic and pyranosic form as gaseous targets around that energy range. The quantum scattering attributes obtained from the calculations reveal in both systems the presence of transient negative ions (TNIs). An analysis of the spatial features of the excess resonant electron, together with the computation and characterization of the target molecular normal modes, suggests possible break-up pathways of the initial, metastable molecular species.