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Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
Ultrafast x-ray scattering of photodissociation dynamics in 2-iodothiophene
Weronika O Razmus1, Ian Gabalski2, Felix Allum2,3
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
A time-resolved x-ray scattering (TRXS) investigation of the photodissociation dynamics of gas-phase 2-iodothiophene molecules following 252 nm excitation is presented. Structural evolution of the molecule and dynamical information on the resulting photofragments were captured using femtosecond x-ray free-electron laser pulses. Two dissociation pathways were identified, arising via excitation to ππ* and (n/π)σ* states, respectively, yielding distinct interfragment recoil velocities of ∼6.4 Åps-1 and 17.0 Åps-1. A comparison of asymptotic scattering data with simulated patterns indicates that the thiophene ring remains closed following dissociation at this wavelength. Modeling the experimental data yields a branching ratio of ∼3:1 in favor of the high velocity channel. These findings demonstrate the capability of TRXS to disentangle concurrent ultrafast reaction pathways and provide detailed structural insight into energy redistribution during photoinduced bond fission in complex molecular systems.
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