Infrared action spectroscopy as a tool for probing gas-phase dynamics: protonated dimethyl ether, (CH₃)₂OH⁺, formed by the reaction of CH₃OH₂⁺ with CH₃OH

Richardson, V ORCID: 0000-0003-4766-0914, Rap, DB, Brünken, S and Ascenzi, D (2023) Infrared action spectroscopy as a tool for probing gas-phase dynamics: protonated dimethyl ether, (CH₃)₂OH⁺, formed by the reaction of CH₃OH₂⁺ with CH₃OH. Molecular Physics, 122 (1-2). e2223079-.

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Abstract

Methanol is one of the most abundant interstellar Complex Organic Molecules (iCOMs) and represents a major building block for the synthesis of increasingly complex oxygen-containing molecules. The reaction between protonated methanol and its neutral counterpart, giving protonated dimethyl ether, (Formula presented.), along with the ejection of a water molecule, has been proposed as a key reaction in the synthesis of dimethyl ether in space. Here, gas phase vibrational spectra of the (Formula presented.) reaction product and the (Formula presented.) intermediate complex(es), formed under different pressure and temperature conditions, are presented. The widely tunable free electron laser for infrared experiments, FELIX, was employed to record these vibrational fingerprint spectra using different types of infrared action spectroscopy in the 600-1700 cm (Formula presented.) frequency range, complemented with measurements using an OPO/OPA system to cover the (Formula presented.) stretching region (Formula presented.). The formation of protonated dimethyl ether as a product of the reaction is spectroscopically confirmed, providing the first gas-phase vibrational spectrum of this potentially relevant astrochemical ion.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Infrared action spectroscopy, ion-molecule reactions, cold ion spectroscopy, interstellar complex organic molecules (iCOMs), astrochemistry
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	18 Jul 2023 08:56
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2024 19:40
DOI:	10.1080/00268976.2023.2223079
Open Access URL:	https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.06460
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3171700