Electronic and Infrared Spectroscopy of [Benzene-(Methanol)n]+ (n = 1-6)
S. Enomoto, M. Miyazaki, A.Fujii, and N.Mikami
J. Phys. Chem. A
109,
9471
(2005).
The microsolvation structure of the [benzene-(methanol)n]+ (n = 1-6) clusters was analyzed by electronic
and infrared spectroscopy. For the n = 1 and 2 clusters, further spectroscopic investigation was carried out
by Ar atom attachment, which has been know as a useful technique for discriminating isomers of the clusters.
The coexistence of multiple isomers was confirmed for the n = 1 and 2 clusters, and remarkably, preferential
production of the specific isomers occurred in the Ar attachment. The most stable isomer of the n = 1 cluster
was suggested to be of the "on-ring" structure where the nonbonding electrons of the methanol moiety directly
interact with the π orbital of the benzene cation moiety. This is a sharp contrast to [benzene-(H2O)1]+,
exhibiting the "side" structure, where the water moiety is bound to the C-H sites of the benzene cation
moiety. The structure of the n = 2 cluster was discussed with the help of density functional theory calculations.
Spectral signatures of the intracluster proton-transfer reaction were found for n ≥ 5. The intracluster electron-transfer reaction leading to the (methanol)m+ fragment was also seen upon vibrational and electronic excitation
of n ≥ 4.