Specific Chemical Reactivities of Spatially Separated 3-Aminophenol Conformers with Cold Ca + Ions

Abstract

Reactive Conformations Most molecules manifest a fair amount of flexibility at room temperature, in particular through interconversion of rotational conformers—structures that differ by the relative orientation of groups on either side of a single covalent bond. Chang et al. (p. 98 ; see the Perspective by Heaven ) devised a method to explore the comparative reactivities of different conformers. A mixture of the conformers was prepared in a molecular beam cold enough to preclude interconversion; then an electric field was used to push the different conformers apart, spatially resolving subsequent collisional interactions with a target of trapped ions.