  We have analyzed the low-energy electron attachment to wobble base pairs
using the equation motion coupled cluster method and extended basis sets. A
doorway mechanism exists for the attachment of the additional electron to the
base pairs, where the initially formed dipole-bound anion captures the incoming
electron. The doorway dipole-bound anionic state subsequently leads to the
formation of a valence-bound state, and the transfer of extra electron occurs
by mixing of electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. The formation of the
valence-bound anion is associated with proton transfer in hypoxanthine-cytosine
and hypoxanthine-adenine base pairs, which happens through a concerted
electron-proton transfer process. The calculated rate constant for the
dipole-bound to valence-bound transition in wobble base pairs is slower than
that observed in the Watson-Crick guanine-cytosine base pair.
