Photofragmentation of Furan Molecule at 450nm

The photofragmentation of furan molecule in the region of 440-460 nm has been studied by mass-selected MPI spectroscopy and time of flight mass spectrometry. Extensive fragmentation occurs, when furan molecules is irradiated by intense laser. The major ions observed were C₃H₃⁺, CHO⁺, C₂⁺ and C⁺, no parent ion was found in the wavelength region at laser flux permitted by our experiment. Excitation spectra of these cations exhibited the same feature, and could be attributed to n→5p, 5d, 5f three-photon resonant Rydberg transition of furan mloecule. This indicates that resonant three-photon excitation of parent molecules is control step in the whole MPIF process of furan molecule. The fragmentation routes were drawn out on themochemical analysis.