Ultrafast photoinduced C-H bond formation from two small inorganic molecules.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38565554.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-47137-3 and PMC identifier 10987588.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The formation of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds via the reaction of small inorganic molecules is of great significance for understanding the fundamental transition from inorganic to organic matter, and thus the origin of life. Yet, the detailed mechanism of the C-H bond formation, particularly the time scale and molecular-level control of the dynamics, remain elusive. Here, we investigate the light-induced bimolecular reaction starting from a van der Waals molecular dimer composed of two small inorganic molecules, H<sub>2</sub> and CO. Employing reaction microscopy driven by a tailored two-color light field, we identify the pathways leading to C-H photobonding thereby producing HCO<sup>+</sup> ions, and achieve coherent control over the reaction dynamics. Using a femtosecond pump-probe scheme, we capture the ultrafast formation time, i.e., 198 ± 16 femtoseconds. The real-time visualization and coherent control of the dynamics contribute to a deeper understanding of the most fundamental bimolecular reactions responsible for C-H bond formation, thus contributing to elucidate the emergence of organic components in the universe.