Isomerization of internal-energy-selected ions

Abstract

Solutions of coupled differential equations for the decay rates of energy-selected ions which competitively dissociate and isomerize show that under appropriate circumstances two-component decay rates can be expected. Although the requirements for the observation of such non-exponential decay is rather restrictive, it has now been observed in a number of cases, including the dissociation of butene and pentene ions, as well as 1,4-oxathian, 1,4-dithian and dioxan. Photoelectron–photoion coincidence spectroscopy has been used to energy-select ions and to measure the rate of dissociation. Examples of such non-exponential decay rates are presented for the above-mentioned ions.