Growth and photodissociation of U+(C6H6)n (n = 1-3) and UOm+ (C6H6) (m = 1, 2) complexes

Gas phase U+(C6H6)n (n = 1-3) and UOm+ (C6H6) (m = 1, 2) complexes are produced by laser vaporization and studied with ultraviolet (355 nm) laser photodissociation. The n = 1 complex dissociates to form U+, U+(C2H2) and U+(C4H2) via ligand elimination and ligand decomposition channels. The n = 2 and 3 fragment down to the n = 1 complex, losing intact neutral benzene molecules. The UO1,2+(C6H6) complexes eliminate intact neutral benzenes with no further fragmentation. These photodissociation trends parallel previous reaction studies, indicating that bare uranium cations are more reactive than uranium oxide ions.