biostudies-literatureUnknown26(17)Abdoul-Carime HControl over chemical reactivity remains a fundamental challenge in synthesis chemistry, where targeting a specific reactant represents the ultimate goal. While photoactivation is a well-established approach for selective excitation, electron-induced chemistry offers a complementary pathway with high efficacy. In this study, we investigate the effects of low-energy electron irradiation on prototypical chlorobenzene/water molecular films, demonstrating that chlorobenzene can be selectively dissociated via a resonant process occurring at ~1 eV. At higher electron energies (>6 eV), multiple reaction pathways become accessible, including the fragmentation of both water and chlorobenzene molecules. Our study provides a perspective strategy for achieving reagent-specific control in complex molecInternational journal of molecular sciences8751https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12429294biostudies-literatureActivation of Specific Reagents in Molecular Films by Sub-Ionization Electrons: Chlorobenzene/Water Films.PMC12429294Abdoul-Carime HKopyra JfalseActivation of Specific Reagents in Molecular Films by Sub-Ionization Electrons: Chlorobenzene/Water Films.Control over chemical reactivity remains a fundamental challenge in synthesis chemistry, where targeting a specific reactant represents the ultimate goal. While photoactivation is a well-established approach for selective excitation, electron-induced chemistry offers a complementary pathway with high efficacy. In this study, we investigate the effects of low-energy electron irradiation on prototypical chlorobenzene/water molecular films, demonstrating that chlorobenzene can be selectively dissociated via a resonant process occurring at ~1 eV. At higher electron energies (>6 eV), multiple reaction pathways become accessible, including the fragmentation of both water and chlorobenzene molecules. Our study provides a perspective strategy for achieving reagent-specific control in complex molec2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-04-08T19:11:34.682Z2026-04-08T12:06:28.384ZS-EPMC124292944094366810.3390/ijms26178751