Selective infrared photodissociation of protonated para-fluorophenol isomers: substitution effects in oxonium and fluoronium ions

Isomer-selective infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra are obtained for the first time for protonated polyfunctional aromatic molecules isolated in the gas phase. IRPD spectra of the oxonium and fluoronium isomers of protonated para-fluorophenol (C6H6FO+) were separately obtained by monitoring resonant photo-induced H2O and HF loss, respectively. Analysis of the F-H, O-H, and C-H stretch wave numbers provides valuable spectroscopic information on the chemical properties of these reactive intermediates, in particular on the substitution effects of functional groups.