Imaging a light-induced molecular elimination reaction with an X-ray free-electron laser.

ABSTRACT: Tracking the motion of individual atoms during chemical reactions represents a severe experimental challenge, especially if several competing reaction pathways exist or if the reaction is governed by the correlated motion of more than two molecular constituents. Here we demonstrate how ultrashort X-ray pulses combined with coincident ion imaging can be used to trace molecular iodine elimination from laser-irradiated diiodomethane (CH₂I₂), a reaction channel of fundamental importance but small relative yield that involves the breaking of two molecular bonds and the formation of a new one. We map bending vibrations of the bound molecule, disentangle different dissociation pathways, image the correlated motion of the iodine atoms and the methylene group leading to molecu

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12311016 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature