Hydrogen atom migration in molecules can result in major structural changes, altering the molecule’s chemical properties. Using ‘ultrafast’ lasers and sophisticated ion imaging techniques, we explore the timescales for hydrogen migration reactions. We study acetylene, a small hydrocarbon, where a hydrogen can migrate to form its vinylidene isomer. We have also explored more complex molecules, such as ethanol, where two hydrogens can migrate. For each reaction, we make a ‘molecular movie’ to aid our visualization of the hydrogen migration dynamics.
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