Photodetachment of electrons from solvated alkali metal anions

Abstract

Photolysis of rapidly quenched alkali metal–HMPA solutions (HMPA = hexamethylphosphoramide) produces high concentrations of paramagnetic, solvated alkali atoms; we argue that the precursor metal anion M–solv species in these vitreous solids is quite noticeably solvated and is best viewed in terms of paired, valence electrons in an expanded outer s-orbital on the metal.