Identification of CH3OH2+ and H3O+-centered cluster isomers from fragment-dependent vibrational predissociation spectra of H+(CH3OH)4H2O

Cluster isomers of H+(CH3OH)(4)H2O have been identified by vibrational predissociation spectroscopy in combination with mass-selected detection of photofragments. Ab initio calculations indicate that the cluster ion can exist in either CH3OH2+(CH3OH)(3)H2O or H3O+(CH3OH)(4) isomeric forms. They can dissociate via a methanol loss or water loss channel, depending on the structure of the isomers. While water loss is the dominant channel of the dissociation, the methanol loss channel is readily accessible by the H3O+-centered cluster isomer. We demonstrate in this study that mass-selected detection of photofragments produced by vibrational excitation is an effective way of identifying cluster isomers in the gas phase. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)01917-6].