The 3p Rydberg states of acetone and photodissociation of the acetone cation were studied using time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The 3p Rydberg state spectroscopy of acetone was investigated with linearly polarized two-photon resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) from 320 to 337 nm. Several new transition bands were observed in the spectra. In addition to the CH 3 COCH 3 + ion, CH 3 CO + and CH 3 + fragments were observed. The laser power dependences suggest that the CH 3 COCH 3 + , CH 3 CO + and CH 3 + ions are produced in three-, four-, and four-photon processes, respectively. Production of CH 3 CO + and CH 3 + involves excitation of the ground state acetone cation by an additional photon and subsequent decomposition of the excited acetone ion. The average translational energies of CH 3 CO + and CH 3 + from dissociation in CH 3 COCH 3 + (X) + hv → CH 3 CO + + CH 3 and CH 3 COCH 3 + (X) + hv → CH 3 + + CH 3 CO, respectively, were derived from the ion TOF peak profiles.
acetone, REMPI, photodissociationCitation: Zheng X F, Wu H X, Song Y, et al. A multiphoton ionization study of acetone using time-of-flight mass spectrometry.