Site-specific H/D exchange of p-methoxyphenol studied by resonant two-photon ionization and mass-analyzed threshold...

The origin of the S(1) <-- S(0) transition (E(1)) and the adiabatic ionization energy (IE) of cis-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OD are determined to be 33 660 and 62 302 cm(-1), whereas those of cis-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OCH(2)D are 33 669 and 62 323 cm(-1), respectively. Similarly, the E(1) and IE of trans-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OD are determined to be 33 563 and 62 191 cm(-1) and those of trans-p-methoxyphenol-d(1)-OCH(2)D are 33 575 and 62 216 cm(-1), respectively. Comparing these data with those of p-methoxyphenol suggests that the H/D exchange on the OH substituent gives rise to a red shift in both the E(1) and IE, whereas that on the OCH(3) group yields a blue shift. The mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectra of the selected isomers can be used as the fingerprints for molecular identification. Analysis of these cation spectra shows that the substituent-sensitive in-plane C-OH and C-OCH(3) bending (mode 9b) and breathing (mode 1) vibrations are active for all of these isomeric cations.