Specific chemical reactivities of spatially separated 3-aminophenol conformers with cold Ca$^+$ ions

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that spatially separated conformers of 3-aminophenol exhibit different reactivities with cold Ca$^+$ ions, enabling control over chemical reactions based on conformational states.

Contribution

It introduces a method to selectively study conformer-specific reactivities using electrostatic deflection and Coulomb-crystallized ions.

Findings

Cis-conformer reacts twice as fast as trans-conformer with Ca$^+$.

Reactivity differences are due to conformer-specific long-range interactions.

The approach allows control of chemical reactivity by conformer selection.

Abstract

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 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 \textit{cis}- compared to the \textit{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.