Dissociative electron attachment to 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and 2,4,6-tribromoanisole molecules.

2,4,6-trichloroanisole and 2,4,6-tribromoanisole were investigated by means of electron transmission spectroscopy and two different types of dissociative electron attachment spectrometers. The results obtained were interpreted with the support of density functional theory calculations. The dominant dissociative decay channels of the temporary molecular negative ions lead to the formation of Cl- and Br- in the low electron energy region. Formation of long-lived parent anions is observed at thermal electron energies. Their relative intensity depends on the experimental time window, ∼36 μs in the case of the static magnet mass analyzer and ∼200 μs for the quadrupole mass analyzer employed. The results obtained may be useful for rapid detection of these compounds in wine and pharmaceutical industries, as well as other branches connected to the food industry, e.g., packaging.