Molecular and cluster anions have been investigated using a newly built tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with photoelectron imaging system. Solvation particularly hydration is shown not only to stabilize metastable anions such as CO₂⁻ in their ground state and impede autodetachment but also to alter the dynamics in the excited states. For instance, the 355 nm photoelectron image of mass-selected CO₂⁻(H₂O)(m) evolves from anisotropic to isotropic as m increases indicating excited state decay via electron autodetachment. Dissociation channels open at m=2 at 266 nm, resulting in O−(H₂O)m-k and CO₂⁻(H₂O)(m-k) products, the later becoming dominant as m increases. The photoelectron imaging of (CS₂)₂⁻ has revealed the coexistence of four electronic isomers: CS₂⁻•CS₂ [C(s)(₂A′)] and three covalent C₂S₄⁻ [C₂ᵥ(²B₁), D(2h)(²B(3g)), and D(2d)( ²A₁)] structures. Water-mediated intermolecular interactions have been shown to facilitate the formation of the global minimum C₂ᵥ(²B₁) structure rather than the less stable local minima C(s)(₂A′) and D(2d)(²A₁) structures that are favored in the dry source condition. In the (CS2)(n)⁻, n ≥ 3 and (CS₂)₂⁻ (H₂O)(m), m > 0 clusters, the population of the C₂ᵥ(²B₁) structure diminishes drastically due to more favorable solvent interactions with the CS2 − monomercore. Photoexcitation of the (CS₂)₂⁻ also results in the formation of CS₂⁻ and C₂S₂⁻ at 532 nm, and C₂S₂⁻, CS₂⁻, CS₃⁻, S₂⁻, and S⁻ at 355 and 266 nm. The relative yields of C₂S₂⁻ is significantly higher when (CS₂)₂⁻ is formed under wet source condition suggesting C₂ᵥ(²B₁) structure as the origin of C₂S₂⁻. An abrupt decrease in the relative yield of C₂S₂⁻ is observed upon adding CS₂ or H₂O to (CS₂)₂⁻. The CS₂⁻ based clusters are the likely origin of the S− photoproduct, while CS₃⁻ is formed through the secondary S⁻+CS₂ reaction. Novel anions (CS₂O₂⁻ and CS₃O⁻) are observed in the CS₂+O₂+e⁻ reaction. The photoelectron imaging and photodissociation results of these and other anionic products are presented. In addition, CS₂⁻•O₂ ion-neutral complex is formed depending on the conditions in the ion source. Despite the positive electron affinity of O₂, no clear signature of O₂⁻•CS₂ ion-neutral complex is seen in the photoelectron image. CO₃⁻ ion is also formed abundantly as a result of CS₂+CO₂+O₂+e⁻ reaction.

Mass-selected cluster anions are employed as model micro-solutions to study solvent effects on the structural motifs and electronic structure of anionic solutes, including the roles of the solvent in controlling the outcomes of photochemical processes. Interaction of light with cluster anions can potentially lead to cluster photodissociation in addition to photodetachment. We investigate these competing processes by means of photoelectron imaging spectroscopy combined with tandem time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. Photoelectron images are reported for members of the [(CO2)n(H2O)m]- cluster series. For homogeneous solvation, the photodetachment bands show evidence of cluster core switching between a CO2- monomer anion and a covalent (CO2)2- dimer anionic core, confirming previous observations. The Photoelectron Angular Distributions (PADs) of the monomer- and dimer-based clusters reveal an interference effect that result in similar PADs. Stabilization of the metastable CO2- anion by water solvent molecules is highlighted because its ability to "trap" the excess electron on CO2. Most surprising is the effect of the water solvent in quenching the autodetachment channel in excited states normally embedded in the electron detachment continuum, allowing excited CO2-(H2O)m clusters to follow reaction paths that lead to cluster fragmentation. Observed O- based photoproducts are attributed to photodissociation of the CO2- cluster core and are dominant for small parent clusters, whereas a water evaporation channel dominates for larger clusters. Addition of a second CO2 to these clusters is shown to preferentially form monomer based clusters, whose photodissociation exhibit an additional CO3- based channel, characteristic of a photoinitiated intracluster ion-molecule reaction between nascent O- and the additional CO2 solvent molecule. Changes in the PADs of NO- are monitored as a function of electron kinetic energy for the NO-(N2O)n and NO-(H2O)n cluster anions. In contrast with hydration, angular distributions become progressively more isotropic for the N2O case, particularly when the photoelectron kinetic energies are in the vicinity of the 2Pi shape resonance of the N2O solvent molecules. First time observation of the CH3SOCH- anion of dimethylsulfoxide is reported along with the photoelectron images of this organic anion and of the monohydrated cluster. Observed photodissociation products are HCSO- and SO-.

This dissertation explores the use of anion photoelectron imaging to interrogate electronic dynamics in small chemical systems with an emphasis on photoelectron angular distributions. Experimental ion generation, mass selection, laser photodetachment and photoelectron imaging were performed in a negative-ion photoelectron imaging spectrometer described in detail. Results for photodetachment from the simplest anion, H⁻, are used to illustrate fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and provide basic insight into the physics behind photoelectron imaging from a pedagogical perspective. This perspective is expanded by introducing imaging results for additional, representative atomic and small molecular anions (O⁻, NH₂⁻ and N₃⁻) obtained at multiple photon energies to address the energy-dependence of photoelectron angular distributions both conceptually and semi-quantitatively in terms of interfering partial photoelectron waves. The effect of solvation on several of these species (H⁻, O⁻, and NH₂⁻) is addressed in photoelectron imaging of several series of cluster anions. The 532 and 355 nm energy spectra for H⁻(NH₃)n and NH₂⁻(NH₃)n (n = 0-5) reveal that these species are accurately described as the core anion solute stabilized electrostatically by n loosely coordinated NH3 molecules. The photoelectron angular distributions for solvated H⁻ deviate strongly from those predicted for unsolvated H⁻ as the electron kinetic energy approaches zero, indicating a shift in the partial-wave balance consistent with both solvation-induced perturbation (and symmetry-breaking) of the H⁻ parent orbital and photoelectron-solvent scattering. The photoelectron energy spectra obtained for the cluster series [O(N₂O)n]⁻ and [NO(N₂O)n]⁻ indicate the presence of multiple structural isomers of the anion cores, the former displaying sharp core-switching at n = 4, the latter isomer coexistence over the entire range studied. The photoelectron angular distributions for detachment from the O⁻(N₂O)n and NO⁻(N₂O)n isomers deviate strongly from those expected for bare O⁻ and NO⁻, respectively, in the region of an anionic shape resonance of N₂O, suggesting resonant photoelectron-solvent scattering. Partial-wave models for two-centered photoelectron interference in photodetachment from dissociating I₂⁻ is presented and discussed in the context of previous results. New time-resolved photoelectron imaging results for I₂⁻, for both parallel and perpendicular pump and probe beam polarizations, are presented and briefly discussed. Finally, new ideas and directions are proposed.

This dissertation explores the use of photoelectron imaging spectrometry to probe the molecular electronic structure of various chemical systems, with an emphasis on photoelectron angular distributions. Experimental ion generation, mass selection, laser photodetachment, and photoelectron ion imaging were all done in a photoelectron imaging spectrometer described in detail. Results from simplistic systems, OH- and CH-, are used to illustrate the general and fundamental capabilities of imaging spectroscopy and angular distributions. This illustration is then expanded when both qualitative and quantitative analyses of photoelectron angular distributions are used to aid in the understanding of the electronic structure of several heterocyclic aromatic systems. First a qualitative analysis aids in the exploration of the electronic structure of thiophenide, C₄H₃S⁻, and furanide, C₄H₃O⁻. Ground and excited C₄H₃S and C₄H₃O radical states are observed, and bond dissociation energies are defined. Next, a new model used to qualitatively analyze photoelectron angular distributions resulting from mixed s - p hybrid states is presented and applied to detachment from pyridinide, C₅H₄N⁻; as a benchmark system. Before further exploring this model, the synthesis of several deuterated heterocyclic compounds is presented in order to determine the experimentally produced systems in our experimental setup. The electronic structure of the resultant molecules oxazolide, C₃H₂NO⁻, and thiazolide, C₃H₂NS⁻; are then investigated. Using this new qualitative model, the mixed s - p states model, to evaluate the angular distributions of the systems, the hybridization of the anion molecular orbitals is probed. Comparison of the photoelectron angular distributions that are modeled for each heterocyclic aromatic system yields several trends relating aromatic stabilization, molecular hybridization, and bond dissociation energies. A new qualitative model is then presented to evaluate photoelectron angular distributions resulting from mixed p - d states and applied to detachment from NO⁻. Finally, new ideas and directions are proposed.

The electronic structure and photofragmentation dynamics of several molecular and cluster anions have been investigated in the gas phase via negative ion velocity-map imaging photoelectron spectrometer combined with tandem time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. Among others, photoelectron imaging investigation of the halogen- and cyano- substituted methyl radicals and corresponding carbenes has been performed on several mono- and hetero- substituted species – dicyanomethyl and chlorocyanomethyl radicals, ·CH(CN)₂ and ·CHClCN, and corresponding carbenes, NCCCN and CClCN. The results are discussed in comparison with the corresponding dichloro- species, focusing on the divergent effects of the halogen and pseudohalogen (CN) substitutions. A cooperative (captodative) interaction of π-donor Cl and π-acceptor cyano groups favors the increased stability of the CHClCN radical, but a competition of the two substituents is observed in the singlet-triplet splitting of the carbene. The experimental results are consistent with high level ab-initio calculations using the spin-flip approach in combination with the coupled-cluster theory. The C-H bond dissociation energies were determined for several substituted methanes and discussed. Additionally, a practical model is presented for describing the energy dependence of laboratory-frame photoelectron angular distributions in direct photodetachment from (in principle) any molecular orbital using linearly polarized light. A transparent mathematical approach is used to generalize the Cooper-Zare central-potential model to initial states of any mixed character. In the limits of atomic photodetachment or photoionization, the model reproduces the Cooper-Zare formula. In the case of electron emission from an orbital described as a superposition of s- and p-type functions, the model yields the previously obtained s-p mixing formula. The formalism is further advanced using the Hanstorp approximation, valid for anion photodetachment only, whereas the relative scaling of the partial wave cross-sections is assumed to follow the Wigner threshold law. The resulting model can be used to describe the energy dependence of photoelectron anisotropy for any atomic, molecular, or cluster anions. As a benchmark case, we compare the predictions of the p-d variant of the model to the experimental results for NO⁻ photodetachment and show that the observed anisotropy trend is described well using physically meaningful values of the model parameters.