Spectroscopy and Photofragmentation Dynamics of Transition Metal Cation-Organic Molecule Complexes

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This starter grant award to the University of Massachusetts will support the research of Professor Ricardo B. Metz. The research focusses on spectroscopy and photofragmentation dynamics of transition metal cation-organic molecule complexes. Gas-phase transition metal cations are powerful catalysts, able to activate carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds in alkanes at room temperature. Very little is known about the adduct, a metal cation-organic molecule complex. The present research uses a dual time-of-flight photofragment spectrometer to characterize the adducts, determining the thermochemistry and bonding of the ground and low-lying excited electronic states. The information is then used to control reaction pathways in the adduct. This research will contribute fundamental insights into gas-phase metal ion chemistry toward the goal of enabling design of more effective heterogeneous catalysts.