Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Electronic transitions of C6H4+ isomers: neon matrix and theoretical studies
Jan Fulara1, Adam Nagy, Karol Filipkowski
1Department of Chemistry, University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 80, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Three open-chain isomers of C6H4(+) and two cyclic ones were detected following mass-selective trapping in 6 K neon matrixes. The open-chain cations 5-hexene-1,3-diyne (CH2═CH-CC-CC-H)(+) and cis- (cis-HCC-CH═CH-CCH)(+) and trans-3-hexene-1,5-diyne (trans-HCC-CH═CH-CCH)(+), possess two absorption systems commencing at 609 and 373, 622 and 385, and 585 and 373 nm, respectively. They are assigned to the 1 (2)A" and 2 (2)A" ← X (2)A", 1(2)A2 and 2 (2)A2 ← X (2)B1, and 1 (2)Bg and 2 (2)B(g) ← X (2)A(u) electronic transitions of these cations. Two overlapping systems are detected at around 420 nm and tentatively assigned to the 1 (2)A" ← X (2)A" electronic transitions of propargyl cyclopropene and 2 (2)B1 ← X (2)A2 of o-benzyne cation structures. The assignment of the electronic transitions is based on theoretical vertical excitation energies calculated with CASPT2 and EOMEE-CCSDT methods for 12 isomers of C6H4(+). These have been carried out at the geometries optimized using several ab initio methods. Adiabatic excitation energies were calculated for the five identified isomers of C6H4(+).
Related Concept Videos
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
¹H NMR: Complex Splitting
Splitting diagrams or splitting tree diagrams are routinely used to depict such complex couplings. While drawing splitting diagrams, the splitting with the larger coupling constant is usually applied first.
Stereoisomerism of Cyclic Compounds
Disubstituted Cyclohexanes: cis-trans Isomerism
In cyclohexane, the substituents can occupy different positions generating distinct isomers.
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Inductive Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview

