Observation of a π-Type Dipole-Bound State in Molecular Anions

On the performance of second-order approximate coupled-cluster singles and doubles methods for non-valence anions

We investigate the capability of several variants of the second-order approximate coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CC2) method to describe dipole-bound, quadrupole-bound, and correlation-bound molecular anions. The binding energy of anions formed by electron attachment to closed-shell molecules is computed using the electron attachment variant of CC2 (EA-CC2), whereas anions with a closed-shell ground state are treated with the standard CC2 method that preserves the number of particles. We find that EA-CC2 captures the binding energies of dipole-bound radical anions quite well, whereas results for other types of non-valence anions are less reliable. We also test the performance of semi-empirical spin-scaling factors for all types of non-valence anions and observe that the spin-scaled CC2 variants generally do not provide more accurate binding energies for dipole-bound anions, while the binding energies of quadrupole-bound and correlation-bound anions are improved. As exemplary applications of EA-CC2, we investigate the dipole-bound anions of the steroids cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone. In addition, we characterize electron attachment to sym-tetracyanonaphthalene, a molecule that supports five anionic states, two of which can be interpreted as hitherto unobserved π-type quadrupole-bound states.

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.

Vibrational Quenching of Optically Pumped Carbon Dimer Anions

Careful control of quantum states is a gateway to research in many areas of science such as quantum information, quantum-controlled chemistry, and astrophysical processes. Precise optical control of molecular ions remains a challenge due to the scarcity of suitable level schemes, and direct laser cooling has not yet been achieved for either positive or negative molecular ions. Using a cryogenic wire trap, we show how the internal quantum states of C_{2}^{-} anions can be manipulated using optical pumping and inelastic quenching collisions with H_{2} gas. We obtained optical pumping efficiencies of about 96% into the first vibrational level of C_{2}^{-} and determined the absolute inelastic rate coefficient from v=1 to 0 to be k_{q}=(3.2±0.2_{stat}±1.3_{sys})×10^{-13}  cm^{3}/s at 20(3) K, over 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the capture limit. Reduced-dimensional quantum scattering calculations yield a small rate coefficient as well, but significantly larger than the experimental value. Using optical pumping and inelastic collisions, we also realized fluorescence imaging of negative molecular ions. Our work demonstrates high control of a cold ensemble of C_{2}^{-}, providing a solid foundation for future work on laser cooling of molecular ions.

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.

Investigation of the Electronic and Vibrational Structures of the 2-Furanyloxy Radical Using Photoelectron Imaging and Photodetachment Spectroscopy via the Dipole-Bound State of the 2-Furanyloxide Anion

The 2-furanyloxy radical is an important chemical reaction intermediate in the combustion of biofuels and aromatic compounds. We report an investigation of its electronic and vibrational structures using photoelectron and photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant photoelectron imaging (PEI) of cryogenically cooled 2-furanyloxide anion. The electron affinity of 2-furanyloxy is measured to be 1.7573(8) eV. Two excited electronic states are observed at excitation energies of 2.14 and 2.82 eV above the ground state. Photodetachment spectroscopy reveals a dipole-bound state 0.0143 eV below the detachment threshold and 25 vibrational Feshbach resonances for the 2-furanyloxide anion. The combination of photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant PEI yields frequencies for 18 out of a total of 21 vibrational modes for the 2-furanyloxy radical, including all six of its bending modes. The rich electronic and vibrational information will be valuable for further understanding the role of 2-furanyloxy as a key reaction intermediate of combustion and atmospheric interests.

Probing Isomerization Dynamics via a Dipole-Bound State

The observation of molecular isomerization dynamics is a long-standing goal in physical chemistry. The loosely bound electron in a dipole-bound state (DBS) can be a messenger for probing the isomerization of the neutral core. Here we study the isomerization dynamics of the salt dimer (NaCl)₂ from linear to rhombic via a DBS using cryogenic photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with ab initio calculations. Although the energy level of the DBS is below the electron affinity of the linear (NaCl)₂, (NaCl)₂^- in its DBS can autodetach due to the linear-to-rhombic isomerization. (NaCl)₂^- in the ground DBS has a relatively long lifetime of a few nanoseconds due to the quantum tunneling through a potential barrier during the transformation from linear to rhombic. In contrast, the vibrationally excited DBS has a much shorter lifetime on the order of picoseconds. The energy distribution of autodetachment electrons has an unexpected characteristic of the thermionic emission.

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.

Probing the Strong Nonadiabatic Interactions in the Triazolyl Radical Using Photodetachment Spectroscopy and Resonant Photoelectron Imaging of Cryogenically Cooled Anions

Although the adiabatic potential energy surfaces defined by the Born-Oppenheimer approximation are the cornerstones for understanding the electronic structure and spectroscopy of molecular systems, nonadiabatic effects due to the coupling of electronic states by nuclear motions are common in complex molecular systems. The nonadiabatic effects were so strong in the 1,2,3-triazolyl radical (C₂H₂N₃) that the photoelectron spectrum of the triazolide anion was rendered unassignable and could only be understood using nonadiabatic calculations, involving the four low-lying electronic states of triazolyl. Using photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant photoelectron imaging of cryogenically cooled anions, we are able to completely unravel the complex vibronic levels of the triazolyl radical. Photodetachment spectroscopy reveals a dipole-bound state for the triazolide anion at 172 cm^-1 below the detachment threshold and 32 vibrational Feshbach resonances. Resonant photoelectron imaging is conducted by tuning the detachment laser to each of the Feshbach resonances. Combining the photodetachment spectrum and the resonant photoelectron spectra, we are able to assign all 28 vibronic peaks resolved for the triazolyl radical. Fundamental frequencies for 12 vibrational modes of the ground state of the triazolyl radical are measured experimentally. The current study provides unprecedented experimental vibronic information, which will be valuable to verify theoretical models to treat nonadiabatic effects involving multiple electronic states.

Observation of Core-Excited Dipole-Bound States

Polar molecules can bind an electron in a diffuse orbital due to the charge-dipole interaction. Electronic excited states of polar molecules can also bind an electron to form core-excited dipole-bound states (DBSs), analogous to core-excited Rydberg states. However, core-excited DBSs have not been observed because of the complicated electronic structure of molecular systems. Here, we report the observation of a core-excited DBS in the pyrazolide anion as a result of the favorable electronic structure of the neutral pyrazolyl core, which has a low-lying excited state (òB₁) only 266 cm^-1 above its ground state (X̃²A₂). The binding energy of the DBS associated with the ground state is measured to be 221 cm^-1, while that of the core-excited DBS is 276 cm^-1, which is still a bound state relative to the detachment threshold. Vibrational Feshbach resonances are observed for both DBSs, and their autodetachment behaviors are studied by resonant photoelectron imaging.

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

Real-time autodetachment dynamics of the loosely bound excess electron from the vibrational Feshbach resonances of the dipole-bound states (DBS) of 4-bromophonoxide (4-BrPhO-) and 4-chlorophenoxide (4-ClPhO-) anions have been thoroughly investigated. The state-specific autodetachment rate measurements obtained by the picosecond time-resolved pump-probe method on the cryogenically cooled anions exhibit an exceptionally long lifetime (τ) of ∼823 ± 156 ps for the 11'1 vibrational mode of the 4-BrPhO- DBS. Strong mode-dependency in the wide dynamic range has also been found, giving τ ∼ 5.3 ps for the 10'1 mode, for instance. Though it is nontrivial to get the state-specific rates for the 4-ClPhO- DBS, the average autodetachment lifetime of the 19'120'1/11'1 mode has been estimated to be ∼548 ± 108 ps. Observation of these exceptionally slow autodetachment rates of vibrational Feshbach resonances strongly indicates that the correlation effect may play a significant role in the DBS photodetachment dynamics. Fermi's golden rule has been invoked so that the correlation effect is taken into account in the form of the interaction between the charge and the induced dipole where the latter is given by the polarizable counterparts of the electron-rich halogenated compound and the diffuse non-valence electron. This report suggests that one may measure, from the real-time autodetachment dynamics, the extent of the correlation effect contribution to the stabilization and/or dynamics of the excess non-valence electron among many different types of long-range interactions of the DBS.

Associative detachment in anion-atom reactions involving a dipole-bound electron

Associative electronic detachment (AED) between anions and neutral atoms leads to the detachment of the anion’s electron resulting in the formation of a neutral molecule. It plays a key role in chemical reaction networks, like the interstellar medium, the Earth’s ionosphere and biochemical processes. Here, a class of AED involving a closed-shell anion (OH⁻) and alkali atoms (rubidium) is investigated by precisely controlling the fraction of electronically excited rubidium. Reaction with the ground state atom gives rise to a stable intermediate complex with an electron solely bound via dipolar forces. The stability of the complex is governed by the subtle interplay of diabatic and adiabatic couplings into the autodetachment manifold. The measured rate coefficients are in good agreement with ab initio calculations, revealing pronounced steric effects. For excited state rubidium, however, a lower reaction rate is observed, indicating dynamical stabilization processes suppressing the coupling into the autodetachment region. Our work provides a stringent test of ab initio calculations on anion-neutral collisions and constitutes a generic, conceptual framework for understanding electronic state dependent dynamics in AEDs.

Associative electronic detachment (AED) reactions of anions play a key role in many natural processes. Here, Hassan and colleagues investigate AED reactions between hydroxyl anions and ultracold rubidium atoms in a hybrid atom-ion trap, revealing different dynamics for collisions with ground and electronically excited state rubidium.

Resonant two-photon photoelectron imaging and adiabatic detachment processes from bound vibrational levels of dipole-bound states

Anions cannot have Rydberg states, but anions with polar neutral cores can support highly diffuse dipole-bound states (DBSs) as a class of interesting electronically excited states below the electron detachment threshold. The binding energies of DBSs are extremely small, ranging from a few to few hundred wavenumbers and generally cannot support bound vibrational levels below the detachment threshold. Thus, vibrational excitations in the DBS are usually above the electron detachment threshold and they have been used to conduct resonant photoelectron spectroscopy, which is dominated by state-specific autodetachment. Here we report an investigation of a cryogenically-cooled complex anion, the enantiopure (R)-(-)-1-(9-anthryl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanolate (R-TFAE^-). The neutral R-TFAE radical is relatively complex and highly polar with a non-planar structure (C₁ symmetry). Photodetachment spectroscopy reveals a DBS 209 cm^-1 below the detachment threshold of R-TFAE^- and seven bound and eight above-threshold vibrational levels of the DBS. Resonant two-photon detachment (R2PD) via the bound vibrational levels of the DBS exhibits strictly adiabatic photodetachment behaviors by the second photon, in which the vibrational energies in the DBS are carried to the neutral final states, because of the parallel potential energy surfaces of the DBS and the corresponding neutral ground electronic state. Relaxation processes from the bound DBS levels to the ground and low-lying electronically excited states of R-TFAE^- are also observed in the R2PD photoelectron spectra. The combination of photodetachment and resonant photoelectron spectroscopy yields frequencies for eight vibrational modes of the R-TFAE radical.

Probing the Electronic Structure and Spectroscopy of the Pyrrolyl and Imidazolyl Radicals using High-Resolution Photoelectron Imaging of Cryogenically-Cooled Anions

High-resolution photoelectron imaging and photodetachment spectroscopy of cryogenically-cooled pyrrolide and imidazolide anions are used to probe the electronic structure and spectroscopy of the pyrrolyl and imidazolyl radicals. The high-resolution data...

Observation and Exploitation of Spin-Orbit Excited Dipole-Bound States in Ion-Molecule Clusters

We report an observation of spin-orbit excited dipole-bound states (DBSs) in arginine-iodide complexes (Arg·I^-) by using temperature-dependent, wavelength-resolved "iodide-tagging" negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy. The observed DBSs are bound to the spin-orbit excited I(²P_1/2) level of the neutral Arg·I complex in zwitterionic conformations and identified based on the resonant enhancement due to spin-orbit electronic autodetachment from the I(²P_1/2) DBS to the I(²P_3/2) neutral ground state. The observed DBS binding energies are correlated to the dipole moments of neutral Arg·I isomers and tautomers. This work thus demonstrates a new and generic spectroscopic approach to identify ion-molecule cluster conformations based on their distinguishable dipole moments.

Observation of a dipole-bound excited state in 4-ethynylphenoxide and comparison with the quadrupole-bound excited state in the isoelectronic 4-cyanophenoxide

Negative ions do not possess Rydberg states but can have Rydberg-like nonvalence excited states near the electron detachment threshold, including dipole-bound states (DBSs) and quadrupole-bound states (QBSs). While DBSs have been studied extensively, quadrupole-bound excited states have been more rarely observed. 4-cyanophenoxide (4CP^-) was the first anion observed to possess a quadrupole-bound exited state 20 cm^-1 below its detachment threshold. Here, we report the observation of a DBS in the isoelectronic 4-ethynylphenoxide anion (4EP^-), providing a rare opportunity to compare the behaviors of a dipole-bound and a quadrupole-bound excited state in a pair of very similar anions. Photodetachment spectroscopy (PDS) of cryogenically cooled 4EP^- reveals a DBS 76 cm^-1 below its detachment threshold. Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) at 266 nm shows that the electronic structure of 4EP^- and 4CP^- is nearly identical. The observed vibrational features in both the PDS and PES, as well as autodetachment from the nonvalence excited states, are also found to be similar for both anions. However, resonant two-photon detachment (R2PD) from the bound vibrational ground state is observed to be very different for the DBS in 4EP^- and the QBS in 4CP^-. The R2PD spectra reveal that decays take place from both the DBS and QBS to the respective anion ground electronic states within the 5 ns detachment laser pulse due to internal conversion followed by intramolecular vibrational redistribution and relaxation, but the decay mechanisms appear to be very different. In the R2PD spectrum of 4EP^-, we observe strong threshold electron signals, which are due to detachment, by the second photon, of highly rotationally excited anions resulted from the decay of the DBS. On the other hand, in the R2PD spectrum of 4CP^-, we observe well-resolved vibrational peaks due to the three lowest-frequency vibrational modes of 4CP^-, which are populated from the decay of the QBS. The different behaviors of the R2PD spectra suggest unexpected differences between the relaxation mechanisms of the dipole-bound and quadrupole-bound excited states.

Influence of a Supercritical Electric Dipole Moment on the Photodetachment of C_{3}N^{-}

Threshold photodetachment spectroscopy of the molecular ion C_{3}N^{-} has been performed at both 16(1) and 295(2) K in a 22-pole ion trap. The 295(2) K spectrum shows a large increase in the cross section with an onset about 200  cm^{-1} below threshold, which is explained by significant vibrational excitation of the trapped ions at room temperature. This excitation disappears at cryogenic temperatures leading to an almost steplike onset of the cross section at threshold, which cannot be adequately described with a Wigner threshold law. Instead, we show that the model developed by O'Malley for photodetachment from neutrals with large permanent dipoles [Phys. Rev. 137, A1668 (1965)PHRVAO0031-899X10.1103/PhysRev.137.A1668] fits very well to the data. A high-resolution scan of the threshold region yields additional features, which we assign to the rotational P and R branches of an electronic transition to a dipole-bound state with ^{1}Σ^{+} symmetry. This state is found 2(1)  cm^{-1} below threshold in very good agreement with a recent computational prediction. We furthermore refine the value of the electron affinity of C_{3}N to be 34 727(1)  cm^{-1}.

Observation of an Excited Dipole-Bound State in a Diatomic Anion

We report the observation of σ-type and π-type excited dipole-bound states (DBSs) in cryogenically cooled potassium iodide (KI) anions for the first time. Two DBSs were observed 39.7(10) meV and 5.0(12) meV below the photodetachment threshold via the resonant two-photon detachment. The different photoelectron angular distributions and binding energies suggest that the two DBSs are of different types. The existence of one σ-type and one π-type DBS in the KI anion was also supported by the high-level ab initio theoretical calculations. The excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical results confirms the prediction that a dipolar molecule with a large enough dipole moment can have an excited DBS.

Mode-Specific Autodetachment Dynamics of an Excited Non-valence Quadrupole-Bound State

The autodetachment dynamics of vibrational Feshbach resonances of the quadrupole-bound state (QBS) for the first time has been investigated in real time for the first excited state of the 4-cyanophenoxide (4-CP) anion. Individual vibrational resonances of the cryogenically cooled 4-CP QBS have been unambiguously identified, and their autodetachment rates state-specifically measured using the picosecond time-resolved pump-probe technique employing the photoelectron velocity-map imaging method. The autodetachment lifetime (τ) is found to be strongly dependent on mode, giving τ values of ∼56, ∼27, and ≤2.8 ps for the 12'¹ (E_vib = 406 cm^-1), 12'² (E_vib = 806 cm^-1), and 21'¹ (E_vib = 220 cm^-1) modes, respectively. The striking mode-specific behavior of the QBS lifetime has been invoked by the physical model in which the loosely bound electron falls off by the dynamic wobbling of the three-dimensional quadrupole moment ellipsoid associated with the corresponding vibrational motion in the autodetachment process.

Observation of a Symmetry-Forbidden Excited Quadrupole-Bound State

We report the observation of a symmetry-forbidden excited quadrupole-bound state (QBS) in the tetracyanobenzene anion (TCNB^-) using both photoelectron and photodetachment spectroscopies of cryogenically-cooled anions. The electron affinity of TCNB is accurately measured as 2.4695 eV. Photodetachment spectroscopy of TCNB^- reveals selected symmetry-allowed vibronic transitions to the QBS, but the ground vibrational state was not observed because the transition from the ground state of TCNB^- (A_u symmetry) to the QBS (A_g symmetry) is triply forbidden by the electric and magnetic dipoles and the electric quadrupole. The binding energy of the QBS is found to be 0.2206 eV, which is unusually large due to strong correlation and polarization effects. A centrifugal barrier is observed for near-threshold autodetachment, as well as relaxations from the QBS vibronic levels to the ground and a valence excited state of TCNB^-. The current study shows a rare example where symmetry selection rules, rather than the Franck-Condon principle, govern vibronic transitions to a nonvalence state in an anion.