Electron spectroscopy using excited atoms and photons VI. Penning ionization of HCN and some related compounds

The He*(2¹S, 2³S) Penning ionization electron spectra of HCN, (CN)₂, CH₃CN, BrCN and ICN are compared to the corresponding 584 Å photoelectron spectra. Large differences are observed for the relative populations of the ionic states of the various molecules when Penning ionization is compared to photoionization. For these molecules, the ratio of the normalized relative populations of states corresponding to removal of π bonding and nitrogen lone pair electrons is significantly greater for 584 Å photoionization than for He*(2³S) Penning ionization. Some unidentified chemi-ionization processes are observed for (CN)₂, BrCN and ICN.