Conformational analysis of molecules using VUV-MATI spectroscopy

Abstract

Conformers differ only slightly in energy and face a small interconversion barrier. We explored the different behavior of conformers by using vacuum-UV mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy. It was found out that conformers have not only different ionization potentials but also different structural changes upon ionization. Especially, the change of dihedral angle which is the very factor determining each conformer shows that the electron clouds affect each conformer in totally different way. The relative stability between conformers is also reordered after ionization following redistribution of remained electrons. Theoretical calculation also supports the experimental results.