Selective bond-breaking in formic acid by dissociative electron attachment

Abstract

We report the results of a joint experimental and theoretical study of dissociative electron attachment to formic acid (HCOOH) in the 6–9 eV region, where H⁻ fragment ions are a dominant product. Breaking of the C–H and O–H bonds is distinguished experimentally by deuteration of either site. We show that in this region H⁻ ions can be produced by formation of two or possibly three Feshbach resonance (doubly-excited anion) states, one of which leads to either C–H or O–H bond scission, while the other can only produce formyloxyl radicals by O–H bond scission. Comparison of experimental and theoretical angular distributions of the anion fragment allows the elucidation of state specific pathways to dissociation.