Probing the Low-lying Electronic States of Cyclobutanetetraone (C4O4) and its Radical Anion: A Low-Temperature Anion Photoelectron Spectroscopic Approach
Despite a seemingly simple appearance, cyclobutanetetraone (C{sub 4}O{sub 4}) has four low-lying electronic states. Determining the energetic ordering of these states and the ground state of C{sub 4}O{sub 4}{sup -} theoretically has been proven to be considerably challenging and remains largely unresolved to date. Here we report a low-temperature negative ion photoelectron spectroscopic approach. A well structured spectrum with evenly spaced features was obtained at 193 nm due to excitation of the ring breathing mode of the C{sub 4}O{sub 4} neutral, whereas each 193-nm feature was observed to further split into a three-peak manifold at 266 nm assigned due to three electronic transitions from the ground state of the anion to the ground and two low-lying excited states of the neutral. Combined with recent theoretical studies and our own Franck-Condon factors simulations, the ground state of C{sub 4}O{sub 4}{sup -}, as well as the ground and two low-lying excited states of C{sub 4}O{sub 4} are determined to be {sup 2}A{sub 2u}, and {sup 3}B{sub 2u}, {sup 1}A{sub 1g} (8{pi}), {sup 1}B{sub 2u}, respectively. The frequency of the ring breathing mode (1810 {+-} 20 cm{sup -1}), the electron affinity (3.475 {+-} 0.005 eV), and the term values of {sup 1}A{sub 1g} (8{pi}) (6.27 {+-} 0.5 kJ/mol) and {sup 1}B{sub 2u} (13.50 {+-} 0.5 kJ/mol) are also directly obtained from the experiments.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1036056
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-84643; 44678; KC0301020; TRN: US201205%%573
- Journal Information:
- The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 3, Issue 3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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