Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of the phenoxide and thiophenoxide anions.

High resolution anion photodetachment spectra of the phenoxide and thiophenoxide anions were obtained with slow electron velocity-map imaging. The spectra show transitions to the X(2)B(1) neutral states of both species and to the Ã(2)B(2) state of the thiophenoxy radical. Comparison of the spectra with Franck-Condon simulations allows several gas-phase vibrations to be assigned. The adiabatic electron affinities are determined to be 2.2538(8) eV and 2.3542(6) eV for phenoxy and thiophenoxy, respectively. The term energy of the Ã(2)B(2) state of thiophenoxy is found to be 0.3719(9) eV, higher than the values reported in photodissociation experiments of thiophenol.