Mass analyzed threshold ionization of the 35Cl and 37Cl isotopomers of p-chloroaniline

Vibronic and cation spectroscopy of 2,4-difluoroaniline

We applied the two-color resonant two-photon ionization and mass-analyzed threshold ionization techniques to record the vibronic and cation spectra of 2,4-difluoroaniline. The cation spectra were recorded by ionizing via the 0(0), X(1), 6b(1), and 1(1) levels of the electronically excited S(1) state. Most of the observed active modes of this molecule in the S(1) and cationic ground D(0) states are related to the in-plane ring deformation vibrations. The band origin of the S(1)←S(0) electronic excitation was found to appear at 33294 ± 2 cm(-1), whereas the adiabatic ionization energy was determined to be 63935 ± 5 cm(-1). Comparing the data of 2,4-difluoroaniline with those of aniline, 2-fluoroaniline, and 4-fluoroaniline, one can learn the effects of fluorine substitution on the electronic transition and molecular vibration.

Theoretical Raman and infrared spectra, and vibrational assignment for para-halogenoanilines: DFT study

The theoretical IR and Raman spectra of para-halogenoanilines, 4-XC(6)H(4)NH(2) (X=F, Cl and Br) were calculated by using the density functional B3LYP method with the 6-311++G(df,pd) basis set. The theoretical spectra show very good agreement with experiment. The rigorous normal coordinate analyses have been performed, and the detailed vibrational assignment has been made on the basis of the calculated potential energy distributions (PEDs). Several ambiguities and contradictions in the previously reported vibrational assignments have been clarified. The "marker bands" and the effects of the halogen substituent on the characteristic aniline bands in the IR and Raman spectra are discussed.

Site-specific H/D exchange of p-methoxyphenol studied by resonant two-photon ionization and mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy

The origin of the S(1) <-- S(0) transition (E(1)) and the adiabatic ionization energy (IE) of cis-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OD are determined to be 33 660 and 62 302 cm(-1), whereas those of cis-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OCH(2)D are 33 669 and 62 323 cm(-1), respectively. Similarly, the E(1) and IE of trans-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OD are determined to be 33 563 and 62 191 cm(-1) and those of trans-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OCH(2)D are 33 575 and 62 216 cm(-1), respectively. Comparing these data with those of p-methoxyphenol suggests that the H/D exchange on the OH substituent gives rise to a red shift in both the E(1) and IE, whereas that on the OCH(3) group yields a blue shift. The mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectra of the selected isomers can be used as the fingerprints for molecular identification. Analysis of these cation spectra shows that the substituent-sensitive in-plane C-OH and C-OCH(3) bending (mode 9b) and breathing (mode 1) vibrations are active for all of these isomeric cations.

Threshold photoionization in time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Multi-photon excitation in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) is shown to lead to threshold ions with defined internal energy. A powerful technique for the production of threshold ions is based on the excitation of high long-lived Rydberg states embedded in the ionization continuum. The Rydberg molecules are separated with suitable separation techniques from ions produced by a direct multi-photon ionization process. Finally, the ionization of the Rydberg molecules in a delayed pulsed electric field leads to threshold ions. This work reviews several separation techniques, and reports on applications of threshold ionization for investigation of the structure, energetics, and dynamics of neutral molecules, molecular cations, and cluster cations.