Daniel William Polak, Lewis J. P. Turnbull, Owen D. Bass, Shengfu Yang, Andrew M Ellis
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Ethylene glycol (EG) is the simplest organic diol. Here we measure infrared spectra of the EG monomer and its dimer with water while embedded in superfluid helium nanodroplets. For the monomer, only a single, gauche, conformation is observed. For the dimer with water, EG(H2O), no trace of the global energy minimum is seen, a structure that would maximize the hydrogen bonding contacts. Instead, only metastable structures are formed, suggesting that dimerization in a superfluid environment leads to kinetic trapping in local energy minima. In addition, we obtain evidence for a dimer where the conformation of EG switches from gauche to trans on account of dimerization with a water molecule. This observation is assumed to be driven over an energy barrier by utilizing the energy released as hydrogen bonding occurs.
期刊介绍:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) is an international journal co-owned by 19 physical chemistry and physics societies from around the world. This journal publishes original, cutting-edge research in physical chemistry, chemical physics and biophysical chemistry. To be suitable for publication in PCCP, articles must include significant innovation and/or insight into physical chemistry; this is the most important criterion that reviewers and Editors will judge against when evaluating submissions.
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