Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium

Abstract Bond rotation is an important phenomenon governing the fate of reactions. In particular, heterogeneously substituted ethane derivatives provide distinct structural conformations around the bond, empowering them as ideal systems for studying the rotation along carbon-containing single bonds....

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Main Authors: Seonggon Lee, Hosung Ki, Donghwan Im, Jungmin Kim, Yunbeom Lee, Jain Gu, Alekos Segalina, Jun Heo, Yongjun Cha, Kyung Won Lee, Doyeong Kim, Jeongho Kim, Rory Ma, Jae Hyuk Lee, Hyotcherl Ihee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57279-7
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author Seonggon Lee
Hosung Ki
Donghwan Im
Jungmin Kim
Yunbeom Lee
Jain Gu
Alekos Segalina
Jun Heo
Yongjun Cha
Kyung Won Lee
Doyeong Kim
Jeongho Kim
Rory Ma
Jae Hyuk Lee
Hyotcherl Ihee
author_facet Seonggon Lee
Hosung Ki
Donghwan Im
Jungmin Kim
Yunbeom Lee
Jain Gu
Alekos Segalina
Jun Heo
Yongjun Cha
Kyung Won Lee
Doyeong Kim
Jeongho Kim
Rory Ma
Jae Hyuk Lee
Hyotcherl Ihee
author_sort Seonggon Lee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Bond rotation is an important phenomenon governing the fate of reactions. In particular, heterogeneously substituted ethane derivatives provide distinct structural conformations around the bond, empowering them as ideal systems for studying the rotation along carbon-containing single bonds. However, structural dynamics of ultrafast single-bond rotation, especially along C–C• bonds, have remained elusive as tracking the detailed changes in structural parameters during the rotational isomerization is challenging with conventional spectroscopic tools. Here, we employ femtosecond time-resolved X-ray liquidography to visualize the rotational isomerization between anti and gauche conformers of tetrafluoroiodoethyl radical (C2F4I•) and 1,2-tetrafluorodiiodoethane (C2F4I2), simultaneously. The TRXL data captures perturbations in conformer ratios and structures of each reacting species, revealing that the rotational isomerization of C2F4I• and C2F4I2 follows anti-to-gauche and gauche-to-anti paths with time constants of 1.2 ps and 26 ps, respectively. These findings also align with the computational predictions. This work offers an atomic-level insight into the kinetics and structural dynamics of single-bond rotation.
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spelling doaj-art-bd660e0b8e0448f5a024b5c7c0ba562d2025-08-20T03:03:50ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-57279-7Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibriumSeonggon Lee0Hosung Ki1Donghwan Im2Jungmin Kim3Yunbeom Lee4Jain Gu5Alekos Segalina6Jun Heo7Yongjun Cha8Kyung Won Lee9Doyeong Kim10Jeongho Kim11Rory Ma12Jae Hyuk Lee13Hyotcherl Ihee14Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Department of Chemistry, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-guPohang Accelerator LaboratoryPohang Accelerator LaboratoryCenter for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)Abstract Bond rotation is an important phenomenon governing the fate of reactions. In particular, heterogeneously substituted ethane derivatives provide distinct structural conformations around the bond, empowering them as ideal systems for studying the rotation along carbon-containing single bonds. However, structural dynamics of ultrafast single-bond rotation, especially along C–C• bonds, have remained elusive as tracking the detailed changes in structural parameters during the rotational isomerization is challenging with conventional spectroscopic tools. Here, we employ femtosecond time-resolved X-ray liquidography to visualize the rotational isomerization between anti and gauche conformers of tetrafluoroiodoethyl radical (C2F4I•) and 1,2-tetrafluorodiiodoethane (C2F4I2), simultaneously. The TRXL data captures perturbations in conformer ratios and structures of each reacting species, revealing that the rotational isomerization of C2F4I• and C2F4I2 follows anti-to-gauche and gauche-to-anti paths with time constants of 1.2 ps and 26 ps, respectively. These findings also align with the computational predictions. This work offers an atomic-level insight into the kinetics and structural dynamics of single-bond rotation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57279-7
spellingShingle Seonggon Lee
Hosung Ki
Donghwan Im
Jungmin Kim
Yunbeom Lee
Jain Gu
Alekos Segalina
Jun Heo
Yongjun Cha
Kyung Won Lee
Doyeong Kim
Jeongho Kim
Rory Ma
Jae Hyuk Lee
Hyotcherl Ihee
Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium
Nature Communications
title Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium
title_full Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium
title_fullStr Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium
title_full_unstemmed Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium
title_short Ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon–carbon single-bond rotation in transient radical species at non-equilibrium
title_sort ultrafast structural dynamics of carbon carbon single bond rotation in transient radical species at non equilibrium
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57279-7
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