Exploring the low-lying electronic states of C4H6OS isomers, dihydro-2(3H)-thiophenone and dihydro-3(2H)-thiophenone

•C4H6OS isomers high-resolution photoabsorption spectra.•Absolute cross-section values in the 3.7–10.7 eV photon energy range.•Valence and Rydberg excitations.•Ab initio calculations at the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles.•Photolysis rates in the Earth's atmosphere (0–50 km). Results of a detailed study on the electronic state spectroscopy of C4H6OS isomers, dihydro-2(3H)-thiophenone and dihydro-3(2H)-thiophenone, have been obtained from high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption experiments together with quantum chemical calculations. The absolute photoabsorption cross-sections in the 3.7–10.7 eV energy range were obtained at the AU-UV beam line, ASTRID2 synchrotron radiation facility. The absorption spectra exhibit features due to transitions into valence and Rydberg states, superimposed on vibrational fine structure which appear much weaker in the photoabsorption spectrum of dihydro-3(2H)-thiophenone. Assignments have been proposed for some of the absorption bands with the aid of ab initio calculations at the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles level (EOM-CCSD) providing vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths. The nature of the transitions was assessed by visual inspection of the natural orbitals for each transition and the average values from the electronic radial spatial extents of the electronic cloud. A comparison between the vibrational structure observed in the experimental spectra suggests relevant CO stretching excitations for both molecules, with important CH2 twisting and rocking modes for dihydro-2(3H)-thiophenone and ring stretching modes for dihydro-3(2H)-thiophenone. Photolysis lifetimes from 0 up to 50 km altitude in the Earth's atmosphere for both chemical compounds have been estimated from the absolute photoabsorption cross-sections.