Photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectroscopy could become a powerful tool for the time-resolved study of multi-channel gas phase chemical reactions. Toward this goal, we have designed and tested electron and ion optics that form the core of a new PEPICO spectrometer, utilizing simultaneous velocity map imaging for both cations and electrons, while also achieving good cation mass resolution through space focusing. These optics are combined with a side-sampled, slow-flow chemical reactor for photolytic initiation of gas-phase chemical reactions. Together with a recent advance that dramatically increases the dynamic range in PEPICO spectroscopy [D. L. Osborn et al., J. Chem. Phys. 145, 164202 (2016)], the design described here demonstrates a complete prototype spectrometer and reactor interface to carry out time-resolved experiments. Combining dual velocity map imaging with cation space focusing yields tightly focused photoion images for translationally cold neutrals, while offering good mass resolution for thermal samples as well. The flexible optics design incorporates linear electric fields in the ionization region, surrounded by dual curved electric fields for velocity map imaging of ions and electrons. Furthermore, the design allows for a long extraction stage, which makes this the first PEPICO experiment to combine ion imaging with the unimolecular dissociation rate constant measurements of cations to detect and account for kinetic shifts. Four examples are shown to illustrate some capabilities of this new design. We recorded the threshold photoelectron spectrum of the propargyl and the iodomethyl radicals. While the former agrees well with a literature threshold photoelectron spectrum, we have succeeded in resolving the previously unobserved vibrational structure in the latter. We have also measured the bimolecular rate constant of the CHI + O reaction and observed its product, the smallest Criegee intermediate, CHOO. Finally, the second dissociative photoionization step of iodocyclohexane ions, the loss of ethylene from the cyclohexyl cation, is slow at threshold, as illustrated by the asymmetric threshold photoionization time-of-flight distributions.

The dissociative photoionization of internal energy selected diethyl ether ions was investigated by imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy. In a large, 5 eV energy range Et2O(+) cations decay by two parallel and three sequential dissociative photoionization channels, which can be modeled well using statistical theory. The 0 K appearance energies of the CH3CHOCH2CH3(+) (H-loss, m/z = 73) and CH3CH2O═CH2(+) (methyl-loss, m/z = 59) fragment ions were determined to be 10.419 ± 0.015 and 10.484 ± 0.008 eV, respectively. The reemergence of the hydrogen-loss ion above 11 eV is attributed to transition-state (TS) switching, in which the second, outer TS is rate-determining at high internal energies. At 11.81 ± 0.05 eV, a secondary fragment of the CH3CHOCH2CH3(+) (m/z = 73) ion, protonated acetaldehyde, CH3CH═OH(+) (m/z = 45) appears. On the basis of the known thermochemical onset of this fragment, a reverse barrier of 325 meV was found. Two more sequential dissociation reactions were examined, namely, ethylene and formaldehyde losses from the methyl-loss daughter ion. The 0 K appearance energies of 11.85 ± 0.07 and 12.20 ± 0.08 eV, respectively, indicate no reverse barrier in these processes. The statistical model of the dissociative photoionization can also be used to predict the fractional ion abundances in threshold photoionization at large temperatures, which could be of use in, for example, combustion diagnostics.

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The dissociative photoionization processes of methyl hydroperoxide (CH3OOH) have been studied by imaging Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence (iPEPICO) spectroscopy experiments as well as quantum-chemical and statistical rate calculations. Energy selected CH3OOH+ ions dissociate into CH2OOH+, HCO+, CH3+, and H3O+ ions in the 11.4-14.0 eV photon energy range. The lowest-energy dissociation channel is the formation of the cation of the smallest "QOOH" radical, CH2OOH+. An extended RRKM model fitted to the experimental data yields a 0 K appearance energy of 11.647 ± 0.005 eV for the CH2OOH+ ion, and a 74.2 ± 2.6 kJ mol-1 mixed experimental-theoretical 0 K heat of formation for the CH2OOH radical. The proton affinity of the Criegee intermediate, CH2OO, was also obtained from the heat of formation of CH2OOH+ (792.8 ± 0.9 kJ mol-1) to be 847.7 ± 1.1 kJ mol-1, reducing the uncertainty of the previously available computational value by a factor of 4. RRKM modeling of the complex web of possible rearrangement-dissociation processes was used to model the higher-energy fragmentation. Supported by Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations, we found that the HCO+ fragment ion is produced through a roaming transition state followed by a low barrier. H3O+ is formed in a consecutive process from the CH2OOH+ fragment ion, while direct C-O fission of the molecular ion leads to the methyl cation.