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arXiv · 2003.09752

Selective Bond-Breaking in Formic Acid by Dissociative Electron Attachment

D. S. Slaughter·Th. Weber·A. Belkacem·C. S. Trevisan·R. R. Lucchese·C. W. McCurdy·T. N. Rescigno
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Abstract

We report the results of a joint experimental {and} theoretical study of dissociative electron attachment to formic acid (HCOOH) in the 6-9 eV region, where H$^-$ fragment ions are a dominant product. Breaking of the CH and OH bonds is distinguished experimentally by deuteration of either site. We show that in this region H$^-$ ions can be produced by formation of two {or possibly three} Feshbach resonance (doubly-excited anion) states, one of which leads to either C-H or O-H bond scission, while the other can only produce formyloxyl radicals by O-H bond scission. Comparison of experimental and theoretical angular distributions of the anion fragment allows the elucidation of state specific pathways to dissociation.

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D. S. Slaughter, Th. Weber, A. Belkacem, C. S. Trevisan, R. R. Lucchese, C. W. McCurdy, T. N. Rescigno. 2020-03-21. Selective Bond-Breaking in Formic Acid by Dissociative Electron Attachment. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0cp01522a

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