Infrared spectroscopy of the glyoxal radical cation: The charge dependence of internal rotation

- Glyoxal cations are produced in a supersonic beam via a pulsed discharge and mass selected.
- The infrared spectrum of the glyoxal cation is measured via infrared laser photodissociation and argon tagging.
- The infrared spectrum of glyoxal cation indicates the presence of only the trans conformer.
- Glyoxal cation is only stable in the trans conformation according to DFT calculations.