Photoelectron spectroscopy of hydrated adenine anions

Abstract

We report the observation of hydrated adenine anions, [formula omitted], [formula omitted], and their study by anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Values for photoelectron threshold energies, [formula omitted], and vertical detachment energies are tabulated for [formula omitted] along with those for hydrated uracil anions, [formula omitted], which are presented for comparison. Analysis of these and previously measured photoelectron spectra of hydrated nucleobase anions leads to the conclusion that threshold energies significantly overstate electron affinity values in these cases, and that extrapolation of hydrated nucleobase anion threshold values to [formula omitted] leads to incorrect electron affinity values for the nucleobases themselves. Sequential shifts between spectra, however, lead to the conclusion that [formula omitted] is likely to be the smallest adiabatically stable, hydrated adenine anion. © 2007, American Institute of Physics. All rights reserved.