Nuclear motion captured by the slow electron velocity imaging technique in the tunnelling predissociation of the S1 methylamine

J Chem Phys. 2012 Jan 14;136(2):024306. doi: 10.1063/1.3675566.

Abstract

Predissociation dynamics of methylamines (CH(3)NH(2) and CH(3)ND(2)) on the first electronically excited states are studied using the slow-electron velocity imaging method to unravel the multi-dimensional nature of the N-H(D) chemical bond dissociation reaction which occurs via tunnelling. The nearly free internal rotation around the C-N bond axis is found to be strongly coupled to the reaction pathway, revealing nuclear motions actively involved in the tunnelling process on the S(1) potential energy surfaces. The vibrational state-resolved energy and angular distributions of photoelectron, ejected from the ionization mediated by the metastable intermediate S(1) state provide a unique way for mapping the predissociative potential energy surfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrons*
  • Methylamines / chemistry*
  • Motion
  • Quantum Theory*

Substances

  • Methylamines
  • methylamine