Photoelectron spectrum of a polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocyclic anion: quinoline-

We report a joint photoelectron spectroscopic and theoretical study on the molecular anion, quinoline^-. Analysis of the vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectrum found the adiabatic electron affinity, EA_a(C₉H₇N), to be 0.16 ± 0.05 eV. These findings were supported by density functional theory calculations. Our experimental and computational results demonstrate the unusual electrophilicity for a polycyclic aromatic heterocycle.