Encoding of vinylidene isomerization in its anion photoelectron spectrum

Abstract

Hydrogen migration between adjacent carbons is widespread in the reaction mechanisms of organic chemistry. DeVine et al. used photoelectron spectroscopy to discern the quantum mechanical underpinnings of this 1,2 shift in a prototypical case: conversion of vinylidene (H 2 CC) to acetylene (HCCH). The technique probed specific states of vinylidene by ejecting electrons with varying energies from a negative ion precursor. Experimental data and accompanying theoretical simulations pinpointed a vibrational rocking mode that facilitated the migration. Replacement of hydrogen with its heavier deuterium isotope disrupted this pathway.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 20, 2017
Source ID
10.1126/science.aao1905

Entities

People

  • Benjamin Laws
  • Changjian Xie
  • Christopher L Malbon
  • Daniel Neumark
  • David R. Yarkony
  • Garikoitz Balerdi
  • Hua Guo
  • Jessalyn A DeVine
  • Jianyi Ma
  • Jing Chang
  • Marissa L Weichman
  • Mark C Babin
  • Robert W. Field
  • Stephen T Gibson
  • W. Carl Lineberger

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Australian National University
  • Australian Research Council
  • Complutense University of Madrid
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • National Science Foundation
  • Sichuan University
  • United States Department of Energy
  • University of Colorado
  • University of New Mexico
  • Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Quantum Computing
  • Quantum Science - Quantum Dots