Selective Bond Breaking in β-d-Ribose by Gas-Phase Electron Attachment around 8 eV

Electron attachment experiments are carried out on the β-d-ribose molecule in the gas phase
for the energy region around 8 eV, and clear fragmentation products are observed for different mass values.
A computational analysis of the relevant dynamics is also carried out for the β-d-ribose in both the furanosic
and pyranosic form as gaseous targets around that energy range. The quantum scattering attributes obtained
from the calculations reveal in both systems the presence of transient negative ions (TNIs). An analysis of
the spatial features of the excess resonant electron, together with the computation and characterization of
the target molecular normal modes, suggests possible break-up pathways of the initial, metastable molecular
species.