Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 342, Issue 6154, Pages 98-101Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1242271
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Funding
- excellence cluster The Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging-Structure, Dynamics and Control of Matter at the Atomic Scale of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Swiss National Science Foundation [PP00P2_140834]
- University of Basel
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [PP00P2_140834] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
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Many molecules exhibit multiple rotational isomers (conformers) that interconvert thermally and are difficult to isolate. Consequently, a precise characterization of their role in chemical reactions has proven challenging. We have probed the reactivity of specific conformers by using an experimental technique based on their spatial separation in a molecular beam by electrostatic deflection. The separated conformers react with a target of Coulomb-crystallized ions in a trap. In the reaction of Ca+ with 3-aminophenol, we find a twofold larger rate constant for the cis compared with the trans conformer (differentiated by the O-H bond orientation). This result is explained by conformer-specific differences in the long-range ion-molecule interaction potentials. Our approach demonstrates the possibility of controlling reactivity through selection of conformational states.
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