The 364 nm negative ion photoelectron spectra of CF2 -, CCl2 -, CBr2 -, and CI2 - exhibit transitions to two different electronic states, the 1A1 and 3B1. The CF2 - spectrum exhibits well-resolved transitions to both electronic states. In the cases of CCl2 -, CBr2 -, and CI2 -, the spectra exhibit extended, partially resolved vibrational progressions and the two states are overlapped, making a direct determination of the origin transition energy not possible. The overlapped spectra show that the singlet−triplet splittings in the heavier halocarbenes are much smaller than for CF2 -. The results of ab initio calculations have been used to generate Franck−Condon simulations of the spectra, which aid in the determination of the band origins. The 1A1 state is found to be the lower state for CF2, CCl2, and CBr2 and the electron affinities have been determined to be 0.180 ± 0.020, 1.59 ± 0.07, and 1.88 ± 0.07 eV, respectively. For CI2, the triplet state is apparently the lower lying state with an electron affinity of 2.09 ± 0.07 eV. The singlet−triplet splitting energy has been determined to be 54 ± 3, 3 ± 3, 2 ± 3, −1 ± 3 kcal/mol for CF2, CCl2, CBr2, and CI2, respectively. In addition, the bending and symmetric stretching vibrational frequencies have been determined for either one or both states.

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra of CH 3 O Ϫ , CH 3 CH 2 O Ϫ , (CH 3) 2 CHO Ϫ , (CH 3) 3 CO Ϫ , as well as CD 3 O Ϫ and CD 3 CD 2 O Ϫ are presented, providing improved electron affinities and new information on vibronic coupling in the corresponding neutral radicals. Jahn-Teller vibronic transitions are assigned to e vibrational modes of X 2 E CH 3 O. The excitation energy of the à 2 AЈ state of CH 3 CH 2 O with respect to the X 2 AЉ state is observed directly at 355Ϯ10 cm Ϫ1. Vibronic coupling between these low-lying electronic states perturbs the observed vibronic levels. Features of the (CH 3) 2 CHO Ϫ photoelectron spectrum are assigned. The splitting between the X 2 AЈ and à 2 AЉ states of (CH 3) 2 CHO is determined to be 1225Ϯ65 cm Ϫ1. Significant vibronic coupling is not observed in (CH 3) 2 CHO. Vibrational assignments are made for the spectral features of (CH 3) 3 CO and no Jahn-Teller effects are observed directly. Electron affinities ͑EAs͒ for the neutrals ͑RO͒ are ͑in eV͒; EA͑CH 3 O͒ϭ1.572Ϯ0.004; EA͑CD 3 O͒ϭ1.559Ϯ0.004; EA͑CH 3 CH 2 O)ϭ1.712Ϯ0.004; EA͑CD 3 CD 2 O)ϭ1.699Ϯ0.004; EA͑͑CH 3) 2 CHO)ϭ1.847Ϯ0.004; EA͑͑CH 3) 3 CO)ϭ1.909 Ϯ0.004. Bond dissociation energies of ROH, D 300 ͑RO-H͒, along with ⌬ f H 300 ͑RO͒, ⌬ f H 300 ͑RO Ϫ), and ⌬ f H 300 ͑RO ϩ) are derived.

The naphthyl anion (C10H7 -, naphthalenide) is prepared in a flow tube reactor by proton transfer between NH2 - and naphthalene (C10H8). The photoelectron spectrum of this anion is measured at a fixed laser wavelength of 364 nm. A single electronic band is observed, corresponding to the neutral naphthyl radical (C10H7, naphthalenyl). The Franck−Condon profiles for both 1-naphthyl (α-naphthyl) and 2-naphthyl (β-naphthyl) are simulated on the basis of density functional theory calculations of the vibrational frequencies and normal coordinates. Issues involving Franck−Condon simulations for large polyatomic molecules and Duschinsky rotation are discussed, and improved Franck−Condon simulation algorithms are presented. Comparison of the Franck−Condon simulations with the photoelectron spectrum shows that the observed band is predominantly due to the 1-naphthyl isomer, consistent with previous measurements showing the 1-naphthyl anion as more stable than the 2-naphthyl anion. The observed electron affinity of the 1-naphthyl radical is EA0(1-C10H7) = 1.403 ± 0.015 eV. On the basis of an evaluation of literature data, the recommended gas-phase acidity of naphthalene is Δacid H 298(1-C10H7−H) = 1649 ± 14 kJ/mol and the recommended bond dissociation energy of naphthalene is DH 298(1-C10H7−H) = 472 ± 14 kJ/mol.