Cold collisions catalyse conformational conversion

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2007 Jul 28;9(28):3786-9. doi: 10.1039/b703571c. Epub 2007 Jun 8.

Abstract

We have determined the abundance of two different conformational structures of the mixed benzene dimer (C(6)H(6))(C(6)D(6)) in a molecular beam, with various carrier gases. These two T-shaped conformers have a subtle zero-point energy difference of only a few cm(-1), and a transition state barrier of about 64 cm(-1). Nevertheless, depending on the carrier gas, the lowest energy conformer can exclusively be prepared in the molecular beam. Low-energy two-body collisions of the benzene-dimers with the carrier gas atoms are concluded to be responsible for this.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't