Gas-phase infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of isolated SF6- and SF5- anions

Resonantly enhanced multiple photon dissociation of gas-phase SF(6) (-) and SF(5) (-) is studied using tunable infrared light from the FELIX free electron laser. The photodissociation spectrum of the sulfur hexafluoride anion, producing SF(5) (-), is recorded over the spectral range of 250-1650 cm(-1). The infrared multiple photon dissociation cross section exhibits a strong, broad resonance enhancement at 675 cm(-1) in agreement with the calculated value of nu(3), one of the two IR-active fundamental vibrational modes predicted for the O(h)-symmetry ion. Much weaker absorption features are observed in the spectral region of 300-450 cm(-1) as well as at 580 cm(-1) that are not easily assigned to the other IR-active fundamental of SF(6) (-) since these resonances are observed at a much higher energy than the calculated values for the IR-active nu(4) mode. The potential role of binary combination bands is considered. Photodissociation from the sulfur pentafluoride anion produced only F(-), but photodetachment was also observed through SF(6) associative electron capture. The IR multiple photon dissociation spectrum of SF(5) (-) shows multiple resonances within the region of 400-900 cm(-1) and agreement with calculations is clear, including the observation of three fundamental frequencies: nu(1) at 780 cm(-1), nu(7) at 595 cm(-1), and nu(8) at 450 cm(-1). Comparisons of the measured frequencies with ab initio and density functional theory calculations confirm an SF(5) (-) anion of C(4v) symmetry. Similar comparisons for SF(6) (-) are not inconsistent with an anion of O(h) symmetry.