Cl-Loss Dynamics of Vinyl Chloride Cations in the B²A″ State: Role of the C²A′ State

Abstract

The dissociative photoionization of vinyl chloride (C₂H₃Cl) in the 11.0–14.2 eV photon energy range was investigated using threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) velocity map imaging. Three electronic states, namely, A²A′, B²A″, and C²A′, of the C₂H₃Cl⁺ cation were prepared, and their dissociation dynamics were investigated. A unique fragment ion, C₂H₃⁺, was observed within the excitation energy range. TPEPICO three-dimensional time-sliced velocity map images of C₂H₃⁺ provided the kinetic energy release distributions (KERD) and anisotropy parameters in dissociation of internal-energy-selected C₂H₃Cl⁺ cations. At 13.14 eV, the total KERD showed a bimodal distribution consisting of Boltzmann- and Gaussian-type components, indicating a competition between statistical and non-statistical dissociation mechanisms. An additional Gaussian-type component was found in the KERD at 13.65 eV, a center of which was located at a lower kinetic energy. The overall dissociative photoionization mechanisms of C₂H₃Cl⁺ in the B²A″ and C²A′ states are proposed based on time-dependent density functional theory calculations of the Cl-loss potential energy curves. Our results highlight the inconsistency of previous conclusions on the dissociation mechanism of C₂H₃Cl⁺