Fragmentation of small molecules following soft x-ray excitation

Soft x-ray excitation involving C 1s electrons in CO and acetone, (CH3)2CO, is found to result in ionic fragmentation of the original molecule. The fragmentation pattern changes whether the C 1s electron get ionized, excited into a Rydberg-line orbital or into an antibonding π* molecular orbital. Also the fragmentation occurs specifically around the site of the carbon atom where the optical excitation takes place. Based on these observations one might consider the use of tunable soft x-rays to stimulate chemical reactions