The binding energy of VXe+

The resonant photodissociation spectrum of gas-phase VXe+ is presented. A single prominent electronic transition with a long upper state vibrational progression is observed in the visible. Analysis of the (VXe+)-V-51-Xe-129 data gives T-00, omega(e)', and omega(e)x(e)' as 15613, 107.9 and 0.95 cm(-1), respectively. The diabatic dissociation energy of the upper state, D-0', corresponding to a 3d(3)4s configuration on the metal ion, is found to be 3220+/-50 cm(-1). This is significantly less than the adiabatic dissociation energy of the ground state, D-0 '', corresponding to a 3d(4) configuration of the metal, at 5240+/-50 cm(-1). These observations are compared with other vanadium-ligand ion complexes.