Photodissociation dynamics of methylamine in the blue edge of the <i>A</i>-band. I. The H-atom elimination channel

Abstract

The photodissociation dynamics of methylamine (CH3NH2) upon excitation in the blue edge of the first absorption A-band, in the 198–203 nm range, are investigated by means of nanosecond pump–probe laser pulses and velocity map imaging combined with H(2S)-atom detection through resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization. The images and corresponding translational energy distributions for the H-atoms produced show three different contributions associated with three reaction pathways. The experimental results are complemented by high-level ab initio calculations. The potential energy curves computed as a function of the N–H and C–H bond distances allow us to draw a picture of the different mechanisms. Major dissociation occurs through N–H bond cleavage and it is triggered by an initial geometrical change, i.e., from a pyramidal configuration of the C–NH2 with respect to the N atom to a planar geometry. The molecule is then driven into a conical intersection (CI) seam where three outcomes can take place: first, threshold dissociation into the second dissociation limit, associated with the formation of CH3NH(A)⁠, is observed; second, direct dissociation after passage through the CI leading to the formation of ground state products; and third, internal conversion into the ground state well in advance to dissociation. While the two last pathways were previously reported at a variety of wavelengths in the 203–240 nm range, the former had not been observed before to the best of our knowledge. The role of the CI and the presence of an exit barrier in the excited state, which modify the dynamics leading the two last mechanisms, are discussed considering the different excitation energies used.