title: Solvation-induced cluster anion core switching from NNO2(-)(N2O)n-1 to O(-)(N2O)n.
abstract: We report a photoelectron imaging study of the [O(N(2)O)(n)](-), 0<or=n<or=9, cluster anions generated via electron bombardment of a pulsed supersonic expansion of pure N(2)O gas. Depending on cluster size, the photoelectron image features and spectral trends, examined at 355 and 266 nm, give evidence of two dominant core-anion structures, corresponding to the NNO(2) (-)(N(2)O)(n-1) and O(-)(N(2)O)(n) cluster anions. In agreement with previous studies, the n=1 anion has a covalently bound (Y-shaped) NNO(2) (-) structure. The NNO(2) (-) core is also found to persist in the larger clusters, up to n=3. However, for n>or=4 (and up to at least n=9) signatures of an O(-) core are predominantly observed. Photofragmentation studies at 355 nm support these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0041, USA.
authors.forename: Kostyantyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pichugin
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grumbling
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velarde
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanov