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Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Absolute Configuration from Different Multifragmentation Pathways in Light-Induced Coulomb Explosion Imaging
Martin Pitzer1, Gregor Kastirke1, Maksim Kunitski1
1Institute for Nuclear Physics, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 1, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
Abstract:
The absolute configuration of individual small molecules in the gas phase can be determined directly by light-induced Coulomb explosion imaging (CEI). Herein, this approach is demonstrated for ionization with a single X-ray photon from a synchrotron light source, leading to enhanced efficiency and faster fragmentation as compared to previous experiments with a femtosecond laser. In addition, it is shown that even incomplete fragmentation pathways of individual molecules from a racemic CHBrClF sample can give access to the absolute configuration in CEI. This leads to a significant increase of the applicability of the method as compared to the previously reported complete break-up into atomic ions and can pave the way for routine stereochemical analysis of larger chiral molecules by light-induced CEI.
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