Dynamic role of the correlation effect revealed in the exceptionally slow autodetachment rates of the vibrational Feshbach resonances in the dipole-bound state

Dynamic Interplay between the Mode-Randomization and Autodetachment of the Dipole-Bound States of the Anion

State-specific dynamics of the dipole-bound state (DBS) of the cryogenically cooled deprotonated 4,4'-biphenol anion have been investigated by picosecond time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. For DBS vibrational states below the electron-detachment threshold, the relaxation rate is slow to give a lifetime (τ) longer than ∼5 ns, and it is attributed to the nonvalence-to-valence orbital transformation. For the DBS resonances above the detachment threshold, however, the lifetime decreases with the activation of autodetachment, whereas the otherwise zeroth DBS modes seem to be randomized by intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR), as manifested in the biexponential transients. As the DBS internal energy increases further, the lifetime shows a monotonic decrease to give τ ∼ 50 ps at E'vib ∼ 1700 cm-1. This study demonstrates that IVR may play an important role in the autodetachment dynamics when the density of states rapidly increases with increasing vibrational energy, giving important implications for the electron-transfer dynamics taking place in large biological or astrochemical systems.

Electron-Binding Dynamics of the Dipole-Bound State: Correlation Effect on the Autodetachment Dynamics

The nature of the electron-binding forces in the dipole-bound states (DBS) of anions is interrogated through experimental and theoretical means by investigating the autodetachment dynamics from DBS Feshbach resonances of ortho-, meta-, and para-bromophenoxide (BrPhO-). Though the charge-dipole electrostatic potential has been widely regarded to be mainly responsible for the electron binding in DBS, the effect of nonclassical electron correlation has been conceived to be quite significant in terms of its static and/or dynamic contributions toward the binding of the excess electron to the neutral core. State-specific real-time autodetachment dynamics observed by picosecond time-resolved photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy reveal that the autodetachment processes from the DBS Feshbach resonances of BrPhO- anions cannot indeed be rationalized by the conventional charge-dipole potential. Specifically, the autodetachment lifetime is drastically lengthened depending on differently positioned Br-substitution, and this rate change cannot be explained within the framework of Fermi's golden rule based on the charge-dipole assumption. High-level ab initio quantum chemical calculations with EOM-EA-CCSD, which intrinsically takes into account electron correlations, generate more reasonable predictions on the binding energies than density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and semiclassical quantum dynamics simulations based on the EOM-EA-CCSD data excellently predict the trend in the autodetachment rates. These findings illustrate that static and dynamic properties of the excess electron in the DBS are strongly influenced by correlation interactions among electrons in the nonvalence orbital of the dipole-bound electron and highly polarizable valence orbitals of the bromine atom, which, in turn, dictate the interesting chemical fate of exotic anion species.

Excited-state chemistry of the nitromethane anion mediated by the dipole-bound states revealed by photofragment action spectroscopy

We report the first experimental observation of the excited dipole-bound state (DBS) of the cryogenically cooled nitromethane anion (CH3NO2-), where the excess electron is loosely attached to the singlet or triplet neutral-core. Photofragment and photodetachment action spectra have been employed for the dynamic exploration of Feshbach resonances located even far above the electron detachment threshold, giving excitation profiles from the ground anionic state (D0) to the DBSs which match quite well with the spectral structures of the photoelectron spectra. This indicates that the electron transfer from the nonvalence orbital (of DBS) to the valence orbital (of anion) is mainly responsible for the anionic fragmentation channels, giving strong evidence for that the DBS plays a dynamic doorway-role in the anionic fragmentation reactions. Photofragment action spectra have also been obtained for the anionic clusters of (CH3NO2)2-, (CH3NO2)3-, or (CH3NO2·H2O)-, giving the relative yields of various fragments as a function of the excitation energy for each cluster. The absorption profiles of the anionic clusters exhibit substantial blue-shifts compared to the bare nitromethane anion as their ground states are much stabilized by solvation. The anionic fragmentation pattern varies among different clusters, giving essential clues for the thorough understanding of the whole anionic dynamics such as the dynamic role of the short-lived nonvalence-bound states of the clusters.

Probing Dipole-Bound States Using Photodetachment Spectroscopy and Resonant Photoelectron Imaging of Cryogenically Cooled Anions

Molecular anions with polar neutral cores can support highly diffuse dipole-bound states below their detachment thresholds due to the long-range charge-dipole interaction. Such nonvalence states constitute a special class of excited electronic states for anions and were observed in early photodetachment experiments to measure the electron affinities of organic radicals. Recent experimental advances, in particular, the ability to create cold anions using a cryogenically cooled Paul trap, have allowed the investigation of dipole-bound excited states at a new level. For the first time, the zero-point level of dipole-bound excited states can be observed via resonant two-photon detachment, and resonant photoelectron spectroscopy can be performed via the above-threshold vibrational levels (Feshbach resonances) of the dipole-bound states. This Perspective describes recent progress in the investigation of dipole-bound states in the authors' lab using an electrospray photoelectron spectroscopy apparatus equipped with a cryogenically cooled Paul trap and high-resolution photoelectron imaging.

Observation of a Polarization-Assisted Dipole-Bound State

The critical dipole moment to bind an electron was empirically determined to be 2.5 debye, even though smaller values were predicted theoretically. Herein, we report the first observation of a polarization-assisted dipole-bound state (DBS) for a molecule with a dipole moment below 2.5 debye. Photoelectron and photodetachment spectroscopies are conducted for cryogenically cooled indolide anions, where the neutral indolyl radical has a dipole moment of 2.4 debye. The photodetachment experiment reveals a DBS only 6 cm^-1 below the detachment threshold along with sharp vibrational Feshbach resonances. Rotational profiles are observed for all of the Feshbach resonances, which are found to have surprisingly narrow linewidths and long autodetachment lifetimes attributed to weak coupling between vibrational motions and the nearly free dipole-bound electron. Calculations suggest that the observed DBS has π-symmetry stabilized by the strong anisotropic polarizability of indolyl.

State-Specific Chemical Dynamics of the Nonvalence Bound State of the Molecular Anions

Nonvalence bound states (NBS) are anionic states where the excess electron is extremely loosely bound to the neutral core through long-range potentials. In contrast to the valence orbitals of which the electron occupancy determines the molecular structure, as well as the chemical reactivity, the nonvalence orbital is quite diffuse and located far from the neutral core. The NBS can be classified into the dipole-bound state (DBS), quadruple-bound state (QBS), or correlation-bound state (CBS) according to the nature of the electron-neutral interaction, although their interaction potentials may cooperatively contribute. The NBS is ubiquitous in nature and has the strong implications in atmospheric, interstellar, or biological chemistry. Accordingly, NBS has long been conceived to play the role of the doorway into the formation of a stable anion or dissociative electron attachment (DEA). Despite intensive and extensive studies, however, the quantum-mechanical nature of NBS is still far from being thorough understanding. Herein, we describe a new aspect of state-specific NBS-mediated chemical dynamics, which has been revealed through a series of recent studies by our group. We have employed picosecond time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy combined with cryogenically cooled ion trap and velocity-map imaging techniques to study closed-shell anions generated by electrospray ionization. DBS vibrational Feshbach resonances are prepared by the optical excitation of phenoxide, for instance, and their individual lifetimes have been precisely measured in a state-specific manner to reveal the strong mode-dependency of the autodetachment rate. Fermi's golden rule turns out to be extremely useful for a rational explanation of the experiment, although the more sophisticated theoretical model is desirable for the more quantitative analysis. For the DBS of para-chlorophenoxide or para-bromophenoxide where the polarizability of neutral core is substantial, the Fermi's golden rule based on the charge-dipole potential needs to be significantly modified to include the correlation effects to explain the exceptionally slow autodetachment rates. For the QBS of 4-cyanophenoxide, the mode-specific behavior of the quadrupole ellipsoid tensor explains the strong mode-dependent autodetachment rate. Meanwhile, the nonadiabatic transition of the excess electron into the valence orbital can result in stable anion formation or immediate chemical bond rupture. In the DBS of ortho-, meta-, or para-iodophenoxide, the transformation of the loosely bound excess electron into the πσ* antibonding orbital occurs to give I^- as a final fragment. The fragmentation mediated by DBS occurs competitively with the concomitant autodetachment, paving a new way of the reaction control by tuning the quantum-mechanical nature of the DBS Feshbach resonance. This experimental observation provides the foremost evidence for the dynamic role of the DBS as a doorway into anion chemistry, such as DEA. The ponderomotive force on the electron in the nonvalence orbital has been demonstrated for the first time in a strong optical field, giving great promise for the manipulation of polyatomic molecules in terms of the spatial location, as well as the AC-Stark control of the chemical reaction.

Dipole-Bound State, Photodetachment Spectroscopy, and Resonant Photoelectron Imaging of Cryogenically-Cooled 2-Cyanopyrrolide

Valence-bound anions with polar neutral cores can have diffuse dipole-bound excited states just below the electron detachment threshold. Because of the similarity in geometry and vibrational frequencies between the dipole-bound states (DBSs) and the corresponding neutrals, DBSs have been exploited as intermediate states to conduct resonant photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), resulting in highly non-Franck-Condon photoelectron spectra via vibrational autodetachment and providing much richer vibrational information than conventional PES. Here, we report a photodetachment and high-resolution photoelectron imaging study of the 2-cyanopyrrolide anion, cooled in a cryogenic ion trap. The electron affinity of the 2-cyanopyrrolyl radical is measured to be 3.0981 ± 0.0006 eV (24 988 ± 5 cm^-1). A DBS is observed for 2-cyanopyrrolide at 240 cm^-1 below its detachment threshold using photodetachment spectroscopy. Twenty-three above-threshold vibrational resonances (Feshbach resonances) of the DBS are observed. Resonant PES is conducted at each Feshbach resonance, yielding a wealth of vibrational information about the 2-cyanopyrrolyl radical. Resonant two-photon PES confirms the s-like dipole-bound orbital and reveals a relatively long lifetime of the bound zero-point level of the DBS. Fundamental frequencies for 19 vibrational modes (out of a total of 24) are obtained for the cyanopyrrolyl radical, including six out-of-plane modes. The current work provides important spectroscopic information about 2-cyanopyrrolyl, which should be valuable for the study of this radical in combustion or astronomical environments.

Experimental Observation of the Resonant Doorways to Anion Chemistry: Dynamic Role of Dipole-Bound Feshbach Resonances in Dissociative Electron Attachment

Anion chemical dynamics of autodetachment and fragmentation mediated by the dipole-bound state (DBS) have been thoroughly investigated in a state-specific way by employing the picosecond time-resolved or the nanosecond frequency-resolved spectroscopy combined with the cryogenically cooled ion trap and velocity-map imaging techniques. For the ortho-, meta-, or para-iodophenoxide anion (o-, m-, or p-IPhO^-), the C-I bond rupture occurs via the nonadiabatic transition from the DBS to the nearby valence-bound states (VBS) of the anion where the vibronic coupling into the S₁ (πσ*) state (repulsive along the C-I bond extension coordinate) should be largely responsible. Dynamic details are governed by the isomer-specific nature of the potential energy surfaces in the vicinity of the DBS-VBS curve crossings, as manifested in the huge different chemical reactivity of o-, m-, or p-IPhO^-. It is confirmed here that the C-I bond dissociation is mediated by DBS resonances, providing the foremost evidence that the metastable DBS plays the critical role as the doorway into the anion chemistry especially of the dissociative electron attachment (DEA). The fragmentation channel is dominant when it is mediated by the DBS resonances located below the electron-affinity (EA) threshold, whereas it is kinetically adjusted by the competitive autodetachment when the DBS resonances above EA convey the electron to the valence orbitals. The product yield of the C-I bond cleavage is strongly mode-dependent as the rate of the concomitant autodetachment is much influenced by the characteristics of the individual vibrational modes, paving a new way of the reaction control of the anion chemistry.