Velocity map imaging and REMPI study of the photodissociation of CH3SCH3 from the first absorption band

The photodissociation of dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3) at 319 nm has been studied employing a combination of velocity map imaging and time-of-flight resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization techniques to detect the CH3 products. Translational energy and recoil angle distributions as well as rotational state populations have been determined for the CH3 photofragments formed in the ground vibrational state. The electronic excitation of CH3SCH3 to the first absorption band is found to produce fast CH3S + CH3 (nu = 0) recoiling products with a negative spatial anisotropy parameter of beta = -0.85 +/- 0.05. The CH3 (nu = 0) products are rotationally cold, the rotational distribution peaking at N " = 3-4. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.