Dynamics of the IR laser induced geometrical rearrangement of 2-fluoroethanol in solid argon at 11 K

Abstract

IR laser excitation of either the C‐H or O‐H fundamental vibrational modes of 2‐fluoroethanol results in photoorientation of the Gg’ isomer as well as conversion to its less stable Tt form. Vibrational mode assignments were made to the absorption bands of the Gg’ isomer of 2‐fluoroethanol based on its IR dichroism. Analysis of the IR spectral dichroism of the Tt photoproduct suggests that it is formed by either simultaneous or stepwise rotation of the CH2F group about the C‐C bond and the hydroxyl group about the C‐O bond, with the C2H2O skeleton remaining almost stationary.