Issue 29, 2025

Electron attachment to CH3COCl molecule and clusters

Abstract

We investigate the electron attachment of acetyl chloride CH3COCl (AC) molecules and clusters in a molecular beam experiment and by extensive theoretical calculations. The main product of dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to the AC molecule is Cl, which leads to the main (AC)nCl series in clusters. The weaker ion series identified in the cluster mass spectra correspond to (AC)nHCl2 and hydrogen abstraction fragments [(AC)n–H], in full agreement with calculated energetics. We compare the present results for AC with previously studied trifluoroacetyl chloride CF3COCl (TFAC) and trichloroacetic acid CCl3COOH (TCA) molecules and clusters. DEA of the three isolated molecules results in the main fragment Cl; however, the electron attachment to their clusters produces distinctly different cluster ions. This demonstrates that the outcomes of reactions of electrons with molecules in an environment cannot easily be predicted from the DEA of isolated molecules, and the solvent plays a key role in the process.

Graphical abstract: Electron attachment to CH3COCl molecule and clusters

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Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Apr 2025
Accepted
30 Jun 2025
First published
10 Jul 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2025,15, 23983-23993

Electron attachment to CH3COCl molecule and clusters

B. Kocábková, J. Ďurana, J. Rakovský, V. Poterya, M. Fárník, M. Gatt, G. Schöpfer, P. Jung and M. Ončák, RSC Adv., 2025, 15, 23983 DOI: 10.1039/D5RA02679B

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