Emma E. Rennie

Photoelectron circular dichroism in core level ionization of randomly oriented pure enantiomers of the chiral molecule camphor

The inner-shell photoionization of unoriented camphor molecules by circularly polarized light has been investigated from threshold to a photoelectron kinetic energy of approximately 65 eV. Photoelectron spectra of the carbonyl C 1s orbital, recorded at the magic angle of 54.7 degrees with respect to the light propagation direction, show an asymmetry of up to 6% on change of either the photon helicity or molecular enantiomer. These observations reveal a circular dichroism in the angle resolved emission with an asymmetry between forward and backward scattering (i.e., 0 degrees and 180 degrees to the light beam) which can exceed 12%. Since the initial state is an atomiclike spherically symmetric orbital, this strongly suggests that the asymmetry is caused by final-state effects dependent on the chiral geometry of the molecule. These findings are confirmed by electron multiple scattering calculations of the photoionization dynamics in the electric-dipole approximation.

A comprehensive photoabsorption, photoionization, and shake-up excitation study of the C 1s cross section of benzene

The absolute photoabsorption cross section of benzene (C6H6), encompassing the C 1s−1 π*e2u resonance, the C 1s threshold, the satellite thresholds, and extending up to 800 eV, has been measured using synchrotron radiation. Measurements of the discrete absorption structure from below the C 1s ionization threshold have been performed at high resolution. In order to unambiguously assign all structure present in the photoabsorption cross section, C 1s photoelectron spectra were measured from the C 1s threshold region up to 350 eV along with satellite spectra. The C 1s−1 single-hole and the satellite cross sections have been derived in absolute units, and their angular distributions have been determined. Resonant and normal Auger spectra were taken on the main features of the photoabsorption and single-hole cross sections. From the best resolved photoelectron spectra the underlying structure in the asymmetric benzene photoelectron peak can be partly disentangled. The experimental data show that at least two v...

Valence and C 1s core level photoelectron spectra of camphor

Abstract The valence photoelectron spectrum of camphor has been recorded with 95 eV synchrotron radiation, with better definition than previous He I spectra. The spectrum is interpreted by comparison with these He I results and with the aid of an outer-valence Green’s Function calculation of the orbital ionization energies. These calculations closely reproduce the observed vertical ionization energies in the outer valence region. A core level spectrum of the C 1s region ( h ν=357.9 eV) is also presented and reveals a marked shift of the carbonyl carbon relative to all others in the molecule.

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry study of the fragmentation of valence shell ionised nitrobenzene

Abstract A time-of-flight mass spectrometry study has been carried out to investigate the fragmentation processes occurring in nitrobenzene as a result of valence shell photoionisation. Synchrotron radiation has been used to record spectra in the photon energy range 11–31 eV, and appearance energies have been determined for 18 fragment ions. These have enabled, previously unknown, heats of formation to be estimated for C 5 H 2 + and C 6 H 3 + . The fragment ion appearance energies have been compared to similar data for benzene and toluene in order to highlight the influence of the substituent on the fragmentation patterns. The time-of-flight spectra show that the peak associated with the NO + fragment changes shape as a function of excitation energy, and at high photon energy the peak consists of two components, one of which is narrow and the other broad. The latter component is due to fragments possessing substantial initial kinetic energy. In contrast, the peak associated with the NO 2 + fragment always appears broad. This behaviour is discussed in relation to the initial formation of a doubly charged ion and a subsequent coulomb repulsion. In a separate experiment the absolute photoabsorption cross section of nitrobenzene has been measured between the ionisation threshold and 35 eV using a double ion chamber. Some of the broad features have been attributed, tentatively, to valence shell excitations into π∗ orbitals.

The design and performance of a threshold-photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectrometer for the study of unimolecular decomposition in polyatomic ions.

The design, construction and performance of a threshold-photoelectron–photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectrometer for the study of unimolecular decomposition in polyatomic ions is described. The spectrometer incorporates a hemispherical electrostatic energy analyser and a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The entrance lens to the hemispherical analyser has been designed to have a high collection efficiency for low energy electrons but to discriminate strongly against energetic electrons. This arrangement has resulted in a resolution of about 3.5 meV being achieved for the threshold electron peak recorded at the krypton 2P3/2 ionisation limit. A pulsed electric field is used to extract the ions from the interaction region and propel them towards the TOF analyser. Computer modelling has been used to trace the electron and ion trajectories through their respective analysers. These simulations have enabled the effective interaction volume to be defined, and this has allowed the transmission efficiency of energetic fragment ions, formed through a process which also yielded a threshold electron, to be quantified. The ion TOF peak shape has been examined as a function of initial kinetic energy and as a function of ion residence time. The contribution of energetic fragments, having specific initial spatial and directional properties, to the TOF peak shape has been determined by tracing the paths of individual ions. The actual performance of the spectrometer is illustrated by a TPEPICO spectrum of the krypton isotopes. Experimental breakdown curves for furan are presented as an example of the use of the apparatus to study unimolecular decomposition in polyatomic ions. By introducing a delay between the detection of the threshold electron and the application of the ion extraction field, breakdown curves can be recorded as a function of ion residence time in the source region. The procedure for analysing the data is described, and the experimental factors that need to be taken into account to obtain a meaningful comparison with theoretical predictions are discussed.

A core-level photoionization study of furan

We have measured the vibrationally resolved C 1s photoelectron spectrum of the aromatic heterocycle furan (C4H4O). The vibrational profile appears to be dominated by a low-frequency mode, which shows an unusually high degree of excitation for ionization of the C atoms furthest from the oxygen. Our experimental results are compared with calculations, which reveal that several different vibrational modes participate in the vibrational pattern. A well resolved C 1s satellite spectrum at a photon energy of 335 eV has also been measured, and is compared to previous experimental and theoretical results. In a separate experiment the partial electron yield (“absorption”) spectrum has been obtained in the region from just below the C 1s π* resonance up to the respective ionization thresholds. A new high intensity feature has been identified on the high-energy flank of the C 1s−1π(3b1)* resonance. With the aid of resonant Auger spectroscopy we have tentatively assigned this feature to a Rydberg resonance. We also p...

Does Tetrahydrofuran Ring Open upon Ionization and Dissociation? A TPES and TPEPICO Investigation

The threshold photoelectron spectrum (TPES) of tetrahydrofuran (THF) is compared to that of the unsaturated furan molecule. In general, there is a similarity in the orbital ionization profile for the two species, though unlike furan, THF exhibits (modest) vibrational detail only in the (9b)(-1) X (2)B band. An adiabatic ionization energy of 9.445 +/- 0.010 eV has been derived from the onset of the TPES spectrum. Threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy was used to explore the loss of a hydrogen atom from ionized THF over the photon energy range of 9.9-10.4 eV. RRKM fitting of the resulting breakdown curves yields an E(0) of 0.85 +/- 0.03 eV (82 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1)) (AE = 10.30 +/- 0.04 eV). If the G3 IE of 9.48 eV is used to convert the experimental data from photon energy to THF ion internal energy, E(0) = 0.81 +/- 0.01 eV (78 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1)). The latter value is closer to the G3 E(0) of 72 kJ mol(-1) for the formation of the cyclic ion 1. A variety of ring-opening reactions were also probed at the B3-LYP/6-31+G(d) and G3 levels of theory. The distonic isomer (*)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)OCH(2)(+) lies 70 kJ mol(-1) higher than ionized THF, which places it within 1 kJ mol(-1) of the threshold for the dissociation to 1. All of the probed H-loss products from the distonic isomer (which includes singlet and triplet species) lie significantly higher in energy than ion 1, eliminating the possibility that ionized THF dissociates to m/z 71 via a ring-opening reaction in the present experiment. The derived Delta(double dagger)S value for the dissociation, 8 +/- 5 J K(-1) mol(-1), is also consistent with the formation of 1. The experimentally derived E(0) values can be used to derive the Delta(f)H(o)(0) for ion 1. Together with the Delta(f)H(o)(0) values for the THF ion (752.0 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1), derived from the neutral Delta(f)H(o)(0) of -154.9 +/- 0.7 kJ mol(-1) and experimental IE of 9.445 +/- 0.010 eV) and H atom (218.5 kJ mol(-1)) our E(0) of 82 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1) yields a Delta(f)H(o)(0) for ion 1 of 620 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1) (Delta(f)H(o)(298) = 594 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1)), in good agreement with the G3 Delta(f)H(o)(0) of 621 kJ mol(-1). Appearance energies for all fragment ions up to photon energies of 34 eV are also reported and discussed in comparison with the available literature.

Thermochemistry of N-N Containing Ions: A Threshold Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectroscopy Study of Ionized Methyl- and Tetramethylhydrazine

The unimolecular dissociation reactions of the methylhydrazine (MH) and tetramethylhydrazine (TMH) radical cations have been investigated using tandem mass spectrometry and threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy in the photon energy ranges 9.60-31.95 eV (for the MH ion) and 7.74-29.94 eV (for the TMH ion). Methylhydrazine ions (CH3NHNH2(+*)) have three low-energy dissociation channels: hydrogen atom loss to form CH2NHNH2(+) (m/z 45), loss of a methyl radical to form NHNH2(+) (m/z 31), and loss of methane to form the fragment ion m/z 30, N2H2(+*). Tetramethylhydrazine ions only exhibit two dissociation reactions near threshold: that of methyl radical loss to form (CH3)2NNCH3(+) (m/z 73) and of methane loss to form the fragment ion m/z 72 with the empirical formula C3H8N2(+*). The experimental breakdown curves were modeled with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory, and it was found that, particularly for methyl radical loss, variational transition state theory was needed to obtain satisfactory fits to the data. The 0 K enthalpies of formation (delta(f)H0) for all fragment ions (m/z 73, m/z 72, m/z 45, m/z 31, and m/z 30) have been determined from the 0 K activation energies (E0) obtained from the fitting procedure: delta(f)H0[(CH3)2NNCH3(+)] = 833 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0 [C3H8N2(+*)] = 1064 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0[CH2NHNH2(+)] = 862 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0[NHNH2(+)] = 959 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), and delta(f)H0[N2H2(+*)] = 1155 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1). The breakdown curves have been measured from threshold up to h nu approximately 32 eV for both hydrazine ions. As the photon energy increases, other dissociation products are observed and their appearance energies are reported.

Long Bonds and Short Barriers: Ionization and Isomerization of Alkyl Nitriles

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations demonstrate that ionizing alkyl nitriles produces a dramatic geometry change involving lengthening of a C-CH(2)CN bond. The experimental determination of the adiabatic ionization energy of these species is thus very difficult. In addition, there are generally low barriers for 1,2-H shift reactions in the molecular ions leading to RCHCHN(+*) and RCHCNH(+*) isomers, which makes generating pure ionized alkyl nitrile in a mass spectrometer a challenge. Threshold photoelectron spectroscopy and threshold photoelecton photoion coincidence spectroscopy were employed to study the ionization and dissociation of two alkyl nitriles, in particular, pentanenitrile and 2,2-dimethylpropanenitrile. Threshold ionization is shown to result not in the respective molecular ions, but rather in isomeric forms, resulting in dissociation thresholds that lie below the calculated adiabatic ionization energies of the two molecules. Appearance energies for all observed fragment ions are reported and compared to available literature values. Charge separation in the dissociation of doubly ionized 2,2-dimethylpropanenitrile is observed as fragment-ion time-of-flight peak broadening at high photon energies.

N2 valence photoionization below and above the 1s-1 core ionization threshold

The intensity of N2 valence photoionization into the three lowest ionic states is given on an absolute scale for photon energies spanning the 1s resonances and the 1s continuum. All three channels, i.e. 3σ−1g X, 1π−1u A and 2σ−1u B, show a coupling to the N 1s–π* resonance and their partial cross sections are characterized by asymmetric Fano profiles. Results for the photoionization of the 2σ−1u B state are compared with measurements of the B–X fluorescence yield. A coupling of the valence photoionization processes to the σ* shape resonance cannot be verified.