title: Photodissociation spectroscopy of the Mg+-acetic acid complex.
abstract: We have studied the structure and photodissociation of Mg(+)-acetic acid clusters. Ab initio calculations suggest four relatively strongly bound ground state isomers for the [MgC(2)H(4)O(2)](+) complex. These isomers include the cis and trans forms of the Mg(+)-acetic acid association complex with Mg(+) bonded to the carbonyl O atom of acetic acid, the Mg(+)-acetic acid association complex with Mg(+) bonded to the hydroxyl O atom of acetic acid, or to a Mg(+)-ethenediol association complex. Photodissociation through the Mg(+)-based 3p<--3s absorption bands in the near UV leads to direct (nonreactive) and reactive dissociation products: Mg(+), MgOH(+), Mg(H(2)O)(+), CH(3)CO(+), and MgCH(3) (+). At low energies the dominant reactive quenching pathway is through dehydration to Mg(H(2)O)(+), but additional reaction channels involving C-H and C-C bond activation are also open at higher energies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kleiber