Laser multiphoton mass spectroscopy of zinc dialkyls

Dimethylzinc (DMZn) and diethylzinc (DEZn) photofragmentation through two-photon resonant absorption to the lowest electronic dissociative states (A 1A1, B 1?u) has been investigated by dye-laser MPI time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. When exciting DMZn, detection of ZnCH3+ as the heaviest ion proves the occurrence of ZnC bond breaking followed by secondary dissociation of the monomethyl ion. Atomic resonances in the Zn+ yield demonstrate the coexistence of a channel producing metal atoms. Analogous dynamics acts for DEZn, but for the formaton of ZnH+ ions. Production of the parent molecular ions above the two lowest states suggests the onset of resonant two-photon excitation to higher non-dissociative states. © 1988.