Examination of the Br+HI, Cl+HI, and F+HI hydrogen abstraction reactions by photoelectron spectroscopy of BrHI−, ClHI−, and FHI−

The photoelectron spectra of the ions BrHI−, ClHI−, and FHI−, along with their deuterated counterparts, are presented. These spectra provide information on the transition state region of the potential energy surfaces describing the exothermic neutral reactions X+HI→HX+I(X=Br, Cl, F). Vibrational structure is observed in the BrHI− and ClHI− spectra that corresponds to hydrogen atom motion in the dissociating neutral complex. Transitions to electronically excited potential energy surfaces that correlate to HX+I(2P3/2,2P1/2) products are also observed. A one-dimensional analysis is used to understand the appearance of each spectrum. The BrHI− spectrum is compared to a two-dimensional simulation performed using time-dependent wave packet propagation on a model Br+HI potential energy surface.