Nonadiabatic chemical reaction triggered by electron photodetachment: an ab initio quantum dynamical study.

Dynamics following electron photodetachment in a complex of a chloride anion with ammonia is explored by a combination of electronic structure and quantum dynamical methods. This system serves as a prototype for investigating a hitherto unexplored class of chemical reactions-nonadiabatic proton transfer triggered by a detachment of an electron. All the reactive and nonreactive channels of this process are characterized and the respective quantum yields are presented.