What can we learn on gas phase chiral compounds by Photoelectron Circular Dichroism?

Nahon, Laurent

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/97190 Copy

Description

Title

What can we learn on gas phase chiral compounds by Photoelectron Circular Dichroism?

Author(s)

Nahon, Laurent

Issue Date

2017-06-22

Keyword(s)

Chirality-sensitive spectroscopy

Abstract

Since 15 years, a new type of chiroptical effect has been the subject of a large array of both theoretical and experimental studies: Photoelectron Circular Dichroism (PECD) in the angular distribution of photoelectrons produced by CPL-ionization of pure enantiomers in the gas phase observed as a very intense (up to 35 %) forward/backward asymmetry with respect to the photon axis and which reveals the chirality of the molecule (configuration). _x000d_ _x000d_ PECD happens to be an orbital-specific, photon energy dependent effect and is a very subtle probe of the molecular potential being very sensitive to static molecular structures such as conformers, chemical substitution, clusters, as well as to vibrational motion, much more so than other observables in photoionization such as the cross section or the $beta$ asymmetry parameter (for a recent review see L. Nahon, G. A. Garcia, and I. Powis, J. Elec. Spec. Rel. Phen. 204, 322 (2015)). Therefore PECD studies have both a fundamental interest as well and analytical interest, especially since chiral species are ubiquitous in the biosphere, food and medical industry. This last aspect is probably the driving force for the recent extension of PECD studies by the laser community using UV REMPI schemes._x000d_ _x000d_ After a large introduction to the PECD process itself, and a description of our double imaging electron/ion coincidence set-up, several recent results on one-photon VUV PECD will be presented, including: _x000d_ _x000d_ • Sensitivity to chemical substitutions, isomerism and conformation _x000d_ _x000d_ • Case of floppy biomolecules such as amino acids alanine and proline with a conformer analysis and possible consequences for the origin of life’s homochirality _x000d_ _x000d_ • Analytical capabilities in terms of enantiomeric excess determination on a pure molecule as well as on a mixture of compounds._x000d_ _x000d_ Future trends for PECD studies will be given regarding the case of more complex/structured chiral systems as well as opportunities for time-resolved PECD opened by the recent first performance of PECD with fs HHG pulses and REMPI time-resolved PECD.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97190

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2017.RG01

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Laurent Nahon

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