Fourfold Differential Photoelectron Circular Dichroism

TL;DR

This study combines experimental and theoretical approaches to measure and analyze fourfold differential photoelectron circular dichroism in methyloxirane, revealing strong chiral asymmetry useful for chiral recognition.

Contribution

It introduces a method to measure fourfold differential PECD in fixed-in-space chiral molecules, enhancing sensitivity for chiral analysis.

Findings

PECD exceeds 50% contrast in methyloxirane

Experimental results match ab initio calculations

Provides a new tool for gas-phase chiral recognition

Abstract

We report on a joint experimental and theoretical study of photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) in methyloxirane. By detecting O 1s-photoelectrons in coincidence with fragment ions, we deduce the molecule's orientation and photoelectron emission direction in the laboratory frame. Thereby, we retrieve a fourfold differential PECD clearly beyond 50%. This strong chiral asymmetry is reproduced by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Providing such a pronounced contrast makes PECD of fixed-in-space chiral molecules an even more sensitive tool for chiral recognition in the gas phase.