A multiphoton ionization study of acetone using time-of-flight mass spectrometry

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 CH₃COCH₃ ⁺ ion, CH₃CO⁺ and CH₃ ⁺ fragments were observed. The laser power dependences suggest that the CH₃COCH₃ ⁺, CH₃CO⁺ and CH₃ ⁺ ions are produced in three-, four-, and four-photon processes, respectively. Production of CH₃CO⁺ and CH₃ ⁺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 CH₃CO⁺ and CH₃ ⁺ from dissociation in CH₃COCH₃ ⁺(X) + hv → CH₃CO⁺ + CH₃ and CH₃COCH₃ ⁺(X) + hv → CH₃ ⁺ + CH₃CO, respectively, were derived from the ion TOF peak profiles.