  We have investigated the electron attachment dynamics of uracil in water
using accurate wave-function and QM/MM methods. The initial electron attached
state is found to be localized on the water and mixing of electronic and
nuclear degrees of freedom leads to the transfer of electron from the water to
the uracil. The water molecules around the uracil stabilize the uracil bound
anion by creating an extensive hydrogen-bonding network. The presence of the
bulk water environment accelerates the rate of electron attachment to uracil
and the complete electron transfer from water to the uracil happens at a
picosecond time scale. The degree of solvation of the aqueous electron can lead
to a difference in the initial stabilization of the uracil bound anion but at a
longer time scale the anion formed due to the attachment of both surface-bound
and bulk solvated electrons behaves similarly.
