Site-specific fragmentation of small molecules following soft--x-ray excitation

Journal Article · Sun Apr 03 23:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.50.1038· OSTI ID:6079109

Eberhardt, W; Sham, T K; Carr, R; Krummacher, S; Strongin, M; Weng, S L; Wesner, D

Soft--x-ray excitation involving C 1s electrons in CO and acetone, (CH/sub 3/)/sub 2/CO, is found to result in ionic fragmentation of the original molecule. The fragmentation pattern changes whether the C 1s electron gets ionized or excited into a Rydberg-line orbital or into an antibonding ..pi..* molecular orbital. Morover, the fragmentation occurs specifically around the site of the carbon atom where the optical excitation takes place. Based on these observations one might consider the use of tunable soft x rays to stimulate chemical reactions or to selectively break large organic molecules.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6079109
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 50:14; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104 -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
640300* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACETONE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FRAGMENTATION
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IONS
KETONES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
S STATES
SOFT X RADIATION
X RADIATION