Photodissociation Dynamics of n-Butylbenzene Molecular Ion

Photodissociation dynamics of n -butylbenzene molecular ion has been investigated on a nanosecond time scale. The rate constants for production of C 7 H 8 •+ and C 7 H 7 +, their branching ratios, and the kinetic energy release distributions have been determined by the photodissociation method using mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. The branching ratios have been found to be in excellent agreement with the previously established results. All the experimental data could be explained with statistical theories such as Rice−Ramsperger−Kassel−Marcus (RRKM) and phase space theories. RRKM fittings for these reactions have been improved. The present result supports the previous suggestion that the dissociation to C 7 H 8 •+ occurs via a stepwise McLafferty rearrangement.