Ar Matrices Research Articles

Free base tetraazaporphine isolated in inert gas hosts: matrix influence on its spectroscopic and photochemical properties.

The absorption, fluorescence, and excitation spectra of free base tetraazaporphine (H2TAP) trapped in Ne, N2, and Ar matrices have been recorded at cryogenic temperatures. Normal Raman spectra of H2TAP were recorded in KBr discs and predicted with density functional theory (DFT) using large basis sets calculations. The vibrational frequencies observed in the Raman Spectrum exhibit reasonable agreement with those deduced from the emission spectra, as well as with frequencies predicted from large basis set DFT computations. The upper state vibrational frequencies, obtained from highly resolved, site selected excitation spectra, are consistently lower than the ground state frequencies. This contrasts with the situation in free base phthalocyanine, where the upper state shows little changes in vibrational frequencies and geometry when compared with the ground state. Investigations of the photochemical properties of H2TAP isolated in the three matrices have been performed using the method of persistent spectral hole-burning (PSHB). This technique has been used to reveal sites corresponding to distinct N-H tautomers which were not evident in the absorption spectra. An analysis of the holes and antiholes produced with PSHB in the Qx (0-0) absorption band made it possible to identify inter-conversion of distinct host sites.

Spectroscopy of Mn atoms isolated in solid ⁴He.

We present an experimental study of the laser-induced luminescence spectra of Mn atoms in solid helium matrices. We observe transitions of the valence electron and of inner-shell electrons. We find that the Mn-He interaction perturbs the inner-shell transitions to a lesser extent than the valence-electron transitions. The observed lineshapes of the inner-shell transitions of Mn are similar to those of an inner-shell transition in Ba studied earlier. At the same time, they are more strongly perturbed than the corresponding transitions in Au and Cu under the same conditions. We suggest a qualitative explanation of these observations based on the atomic bubble model. Our results also suggest that the inner-shell transitions of Mn in solid He are more strongly perturbed than the same lines of Mn isolated in solid Ar or Kr matrices.

Conformational equilibrium of 2-deoxyadenosine molecules isolated in inert Ar matrices

The FTIR spectra of 2-deoxyadenosine (dA) molecules isolated in low-temperature Ar matrices were obtained in the range of 3800−180 cm−1 with a resolution of 0.3 cm−1. The population analysis of the major structural isomers of dA was carried out by MP2 and DFT quantum-mechanical calculation methods. It was established that dA can sustain prolonged evaporation at 440 K without undergoing thermal decomposition. For the first time, it was shown that the populations of dA syn-conformers with the intramolecular hydrogen bond O5′H–N3 is close to (76 ± 5)% in the gas phase and matrix. Upon freezing in the matrix the syn-conformers with the intramolecular hydrogen bond O5′H–N3 and C3′-endo structure of the deoxyribose ring were fully transformed into the subset of syn-conformers with the C2′-endo structure of the deoxyribose ring. Only two structures from this subset with different rotation angles of the O3′H-group can be stabilized in the matrix. Unlike pyrimidine nucleosides, the dA conformers with the intramolecular hydrogen bonds O3′H–O5 or O5′H–O3 were not found.

Trifluoromethylphenylcarbenes. Carbene-Carbene Interconversion on the Singlet Energy Surface and Rearrangement to Trifluorobenzocyclobutene, Trifluorostyrene, and Trifluoromethylfulvenallenes

The four isomeric α-, ortho-, meta-, and para-trifluoromethylphenylcarbenes were generated by photolysis of the corresponding 3-phenyl-3-trifluoromethyldiazirene 1 or the four isomeric trifluoromethylphenyldiazomethanes 2 and 4–6. The four corresponding triplet trifluoromethylphenylcarbenes 3 and 7–9 were observed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in Ar matrices at 14 K. The α- and ortho-carbenes 3 and 7 and the ortho- and para-carbenes 7 and 9 interconvert partially when generated by short-wavelength photolysis (350 nm) before intersystem crossing to the triplet states. The triplet states do not undergo further Carbene-Carbene interconversion. The interconversions are assumed to take place via the meta-trifluoromethylphenylcarbene 8. When the ortho- and para-carbenes are generated by long-wavelength photolysis (>450 nm), the discrete, non-interconverting triplet carbenes are observed in the ESR spectra. Flash vacuum thermolysis of the diazirene 1 at 500°C afforded a mixture of bis(trifluoromethyl)heptafulvalenes 11, bis(trifluoromethyl)stilbenes 12, and bis(trifluoromethyl)anthracenes 13, and the presence of their likely precursor(s), trifluoromethylcycloheptatetraene(s), was confirmed by a peak at 1830 cm–1 in the Ar matrix IR spectrum. In addition, at 700°C, four monomeric carbene rearrangement products were isolated and characterised, viz. 1,1,2-trifluorobenzocyclobutene 14, 1′,2′,2′-trifluorostyrene 15, and 1- and 2-trifluoromethylfulvenallenes 16 and 17.

Infrared vibrational and electronic transitions in the dibenzopolyacene family

We report experimental spectra in the mid-infrared (IR) and near-IR for a series of dibenzoacenes isolated in Ar matrices. The experiments are supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations with both vibrational and electronic transitions studied. For the neutrals, we find good agreement between the experimental and B3LYP and BP86 results for all species studied. The band at about 1440cm−1 carries more intensity than in typical PAHs and increases in intensity with the size of the dibenzoacene molecule. For the ions the B3LYP approach fails to yield reasonable IR spectra for most systems and the BP86 approach is used. Electronic transitions dominate the vibrational bands in the mid-IR region for the large dibenzoacene ions. In spite of the very strong electronic transitions, there is still reasonable agreement between theory and experiment for the vibrational band positions. The experimental and theoretical results for the dibenzoacenes are also compared with those for the polyacenes.

Matrix effect on vibrational frequencies: Experiments and simulations for HCl and HNgCl (Ng = Kr and Xe)

We study the environmental effect on molecules embedded in noble-gas (Ng) matrices. The experimental data on HXeCl and HKrCl in Ng matrices is enriched. As a result, the H-Xe stretching bands of HXeCl are now known in four Ng matrices (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe), and HKrCl is now known in Ar and Kr matrices. The order of the H-Xe stretching frequencies of HXeCl in different matrices is ν(Ne) < ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar), which is a non-monotonous function of the dielectric constant, in contrast to the "classical" order observed for HCl: ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar) < ν(Ne). The order of the H-Kr stretching frequencies of HKrCl is consistently ν(Kr) < ν(Ar). These matrix effects are analyzed theoretically by using a number of quantum chemical methods. The calculations on these molecules (HCl, HXeCl, and HKrCl) embedded in single Ng(') layer cages lead to very satisfactory results with respect to the relative matrix shifts in the case of the MP4(SDQ) method whereas the B3LYP-D and MP2 methods fail to fully reproduce these experimental results. The obtained order of frequencies is discussed in terms of the size available for the Ng hydrides in the cages, probably leading to different stresses on the embedded molecule. Taking into account vibrational anharmonicity produces a good agreement of the MP4(SDQ) frequencies of HCl and HXeCl with the experimental values in different matrices. This work also highlights a number of open questions in the field.

3-Pyridazinylnitrenes and 2-Pyrimidinylnitrenes

Mild flash vacuum thermolysis of tetrazolo[1,5-b]pyridazines 8T generates small amounts of 3-azidopyridazines 8A (8aA, IR 2145, 2118 cm(-1); 8bA, 2142 cm(-1)). Photolysis of the tetrazoles/azides 8T/8A in Ar matrix generates 3-pyridazinylnitrenes 9, detected by ESR spectroscopy (9a: D/hc = 1.006; E/hc = 0.003 cm(-1)). Cyanovinylcarbenes 11, derived from 4-diazobut-2-enenitriles 10, are also detected by ESR spectroscopy (11a: D/hc = 0.362; E/hc = 0.021 cm(-1)). Carbenes 11 rearrange to cyanoallenes 12 and 3-cyanocyclopropenes 13. Triazacycloheptatetraenes 20 were not observed in the photolyses of 8. Photolysis of tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines/2-azidopyridmidines 18T/18A in Ar matrices at 254 nm yields 2-pyrimidinylnitrenes 19, observable by ESR, UV, and IR spectroscopy (19a: ESR: D/hc = 1.217; E/hc = 0.0052 cm(-1)). Excellent agreement with the calculated IR spectrum identifies the 1,2,4-triazacyclohepta-1,2,4,6-tetraenes 20 (20a, 1969 cm(-1); 20b, 1979 cm(-1)). Compounds 20 undergo photochemical ring-opening to 1-isocyano-3-diazopropenes 23. Further irradiation also causes Type II ring-opening of pyrimidinylnitrenes 19 to 2-(cyanimino)vinylnitrenes 21 (21a: D/hc = 0.875; E/hc = 0.00 cm(-1)), isomerization to cyaniminoketenimine 25 (2044 cm(-1)), and cyclization to 1-cyanopyrazoles 22. The reaction mechanisms are discussed and supported by DFT calculations on key intermediates and pathways. There is no evidence for the interconversion of 3-pyridazinylnitrenes 9 and 2-pyrimidinylnitrenes 19.

Synthesis and spectroscopy of cyanotriacetylene (HC7N) in solid argon.

UV laser irradiations of cryogenic solid argon matrices doped with a mixture of acetylene and cyanodiacetylene (HC5N) resulted in the formation of a longer carbon-nitrogen chain, cyanotriacetylene (HC7N). The identification of this species was accomplished based on IR vibrational spectroscopy (including the study of isotopically labeled compounds), on electronic luminescence spectroscopy, and on theoretical predictions. Additionally, IR absorption bands recognized as due to HC7N were detected in photolysed Ar matrices doped with a cyanoacetylene/diacetylene mixture; this assignment was confirmed with the mass spectrometry of gases released upon the warm-up of the sample.

A density functional tight binding/force field approach to the interaction of molecules with rare gas clusters: application to (C6H6)(+/0)Ar(n) clusters.

We propose in the present paper a SCC-DFTB/FF (Self-Consistent-Charge Density Functional based Tight Binding/Force-Field) scheme adapted to the investigation of molecules trapped in rare gas environments. With respect to usual FF descriptions, the model involves the interaction of quantum electrons in a molecule with rare gas atoms in an anisotropic scheme. It includes polarization and dispersion contributions and can be used for both neutral and charged species. Parameters for this model are determined for hydrocarbon-argon complexes and the model is validated for small hydrocarbons. With the future aim of studying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Ar matrices, extensive benchmark calculations are performed on (C6H6)(+/0)Arn clusters against DFT and CCSD(T) calculations for the smaller sizes, and more generally against other experimental and theoretical data. Results on the structures and energetics (isomer ordering and energy separation, cohesion energy per Ar atom) are presented in detail for n = 1-8, 13, 20, 27, and 30, for both neutrals and cations. We confirm that the clustering of Ar atoms leads to a monotonous decrease of the ionization potential of benzene for n ⩽ 20, in line with previous experimental and FF data.

Flash (Vacuum) Pyrolysis Apparatus and Methods

The history of pyrolysis equipment, methods, and reactions is narrated in the Introduction. Detailed descriptions of flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) (or thermolysis, FVT) apparatus for preparative and spectroscopic (UV, IR, electron spin resonance) purposes with product isolation at 77 K or in Ar matrices at ~10 K are presented. Very low pressure pyrolysis (VLPP), laser pyrolysis, and pulsed pyrolysis (jet flash pyrolysis) are also described together with illustrations of apparatus. The solvent spray flash vacuum pyrolysis (SS-FVP) of liquids or solutions of compounds of low volatility is described together with methods for the addition of solids to a pyrolysis tube, in particular details of pipto-pyrolysis (‘falling solid pyrolysis’). Methods used for catalytic vacuum gas–solid reactions (VGSR) are also summarised.

Matrix Isolation and Computational Study on the Photolysis of CHCl&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;COCl

UV light photolysis of dichloroacetyl chloride (CHCl2COCl) has been investigated by infrared spectroscopy in cryogenic Ar, Kr, Xe, and O2 matrices. The formation of CHCl3 and CO was found to be the dominant process over the ketene formation. The C-C bond cleaved products CHCl2 and COCl were also observed. As the number of the chlorine atom substitution to methyl group of acetyl chloride increased, the C-C bond cleaved product yield in the triplet state increased, which can be attributed to an internal heavy-atom effect where the intersystem crossing rate was enhanced.

The Elusive Ethenediselone, Se=C=C=Se

The neutral ethenediselone, Se=C=C=Se, has been characterised by neutralisation–reionisation mass spectrometry, which implies a minimum lifetime of the order of microseconds. Tetraselenafulvalene 1 and tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene 2 were used as precursor molecules. Flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) of these compounds with isolation of the products in Ar matrices permitted the identification of ethyne, 2-butyne, CSe2, and selenoketene, H2C=C=Se, but at best traces of Se=C=C=Se survived the FVT/matrix isolation experiment. Multiconfigurational calculations indicate that Se=C=C=Se is a ground state triplet molecule with a very small singlet-triplet gap.

Vibrational spectra of adenine molecules in Kr, Ar, and Ne matrices

IR Fourier spectra of adenine molecules isolated in low-temperature Kr, Ar, and Ne matrices are obtained over the frequency range of 3800–450 cm−1 with a resolution of 0.25 cm−1. MP2 and DFT/BeLYP quantum-mechanical calculations are used to determine the populations of the main structural isomers of adenine for different evaporation temperatures. It is found that the populations of the minor isomers of adenine do not exceed the observation threshold of 0.2% at an evaporation temperature of 450 K. The effect of the matrices reduces to splitting most of the absorption bands of the main isomer A_9H. Splitting of a number of deformation vibration bands owing to Fermi resonances is observed in the 1700–450 cm−1 range. DFT/B3LYP calculations with a polynomial correction for the frequencies of the vibrational spectra are used to determine the spectral ranges within which it is best to search for the most intense vibrations of the rare isomers: 3440–3310, 1710–1680, and 1580–1540 cm−1. It is found that a triple Fermi resonance occurs for γN9H out-of-plane vibrations with participation of librational modes.

Environmental effects on noble-gas hydrides: HXeBr, HXeCCH, and HXeH in noble-gas and molecular matrices

Noble-gas hydrides HNgY (Ng is a noble-gas atom and Y is an electronegative group) are sensitive probes of local environment due to their relatively weak bonding and large dipole moments. We experimentally studied HXeBr in Ar, Kr, and N2 matrices, HXeCCH in Ne and N2 matrices, and HXeH in an N2 matrix. These are the first observations of noble-gas hydrides in an N2 matrix. An N2 matrix strongly increases the H-Xe stretching frequency of HXeBr and HXeCCH with respect to a Ne matrix, which is presumably due to a strong interaction between the HNgY dipole moment and quadrupole moments of the surrounding lattice N2 molecules. The spectral shift of HXeBr in an N2 matrix is similar to that in a CO2 matrix, which is a rather unexpected result because the quadrupole moment of CO2 is about three times as large as that of N2. The H-Xe stretching frequencies of HXeBr and HXeCCH in noble-gas matrices show a trend of ν(Ne) < ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar), which is a non-monotonous function of the dielectric constants of the noble-gas solids. The MP2(full) calculations of HXeBr and HXeCCH with the polarizable continuum model as well as the CCSD(T) calculations of the HXeBr···Ng and HXeCCH···Ng (Ng = Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) complexes cannot fully explain the experimental observations. It is concluded that more sophisticated computational models should be used to describe these experimental findings.

Fermi resonance in Ne, Ar and Kr-matrix infrared spectra of 5-bromouracil

Low-temperature matrix isolation Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations with DFT/B3LYP and MP2 methods were used for investigation of isolated 5-bromouracil (BrU) molecules. Only one tautomeric form of BrU was dominated in the low-temperature Ne, Ar, and Kr matrices. It was revealed that population of minor hydroxy-tautomers did not exceed 0.2%. Appearance of additional absorption bands in the region of stretching vibrations νCO (about 1710 cm−1) as well as of deformation ones (1297, 1093, 901 cm−1) was explained by Fermi resonance. In Ne matrices the peak intensities of absorption bands assigned to the out-of-plane vibrations of the ring and exocyclic atoms were decreased sharply. For the first time, least square method with the using of polynomial was proposed for the corrective scaling of calculated frequencies of vibrations. It is shown that the correction of calculated frequencies with the polynomial of degree two permits to decrease the root-mean-square discrepancy between the calculated and experimental ones to 4–5 cm−1 in the region of 1500–500 cm−1. The same polynomial may be applied for the correction of spectra of molecules with a similar structure.

Carbocations Generated under Stable Conditions by Ionization of Matrix-Isolated Radicals: The Allyl and Benzyl Cations

Carbocations are crucial intermediates in many chemical reactions; hence, considerable effort has gone into investigating their structures and properties, for example, in superacids, in salts, or in the gas phase. However, studies of the vibrational structure of carbocations are not abundant, because their infrared spectra are difficult to obtain in superacids or salts (where furthermore the cations may be perturbed by counterions), and the generation of gas-phase carbocations in discharges usually produces several species. We have applied the technique of ionizing neutral compounds by X-irradiation of cryogenic Ar matrices to radicals embedded in such matrices, thus producing closed-shell cations that can be investigated leisurely, and in the absence of counterions or other perturbing effects, by various forms of spectroscopy. This Article describes the first set of results that were obtained by this approach, the IR spectra of the allyl and the benzyl cation. We use the information obtained in this way, together with previously obtained data, to assess the changes in chemical bonding between the allyl and benzyl radicals and cations, respectively.

Anomalous EPR Intensity Distribution of the Methyl Radical Quartet Adsorbed on the Surface of Porous Materials. Comparison with Solid Gas Matrix Isolation

The two inner lines of the EPR quartet of methyl radicals trapped in cryogenic gas matrices are superpositions of the inner transitions of an A-proton-spin quartet and an E-proton-spin doublet. Their intensity relative to the outer lines provides information on the population of the methyl-rotation quantum states. The above intensity ratio for the CH3 in solids is a challenging problem of the quantum dynamics and statistical thermodynamics. The influence of the quantum-mechanical/inertial rotation on the intensity distribution of the hf components of methyl radical on the surface of porous materials, e.g., silica gel, is investigated by EPR line shape simulations and compared with spectra of the radical isolated in the bulk of solid gas samples. The experimental part of this study includes the first in literature EPR observation of methyl radical in the bulk of N2O solid and provides new essential information on CH3 in CO2 and Ar matrices, thus, covering both strongly hindered and almost free rotation of the radical. We verify the observation of nonrotating methyl radicals in a N2O matrix, discovered earlier in cold CO2, give a thorough account of their EPR characteristics, and explore their formation at the inner surface of porous materials. Combination of a classical spin-Hamiltonian with employment of quantum effects due to nuclear spin-rotation coupling and the radical symmetry were used to interpret the experimental spectral observations. The cause of experimentally found unexpected contribution of the excited degenerate E-doublets to the EPR spectrum down to 4.2 K and A/E transition amplitude ratios sometimes as high as ca. 1:8 at liquid-N2 temperature is sought. The validity of Bose-Einstein quantum (BEq-) statistics of the spin rotation states in addition to the classical Maxwell-Boltzmann (Boltzmann) statistics was also assessed against experimental population A/E-ratio data. The BEq-statistics were not previously applied to similar systems. Furthermore, detailed consideration of the laboratory/free space rotational degeneracy and the planarity of methyl radical was also included in this work.

Laboratory Studies on the Role of PAHs as DIB Carriers

AbstractThe electronic spectroscopy of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules has been studied in the laboratory at low temperatures using both molecular beam and matrix isolation spectroscopy techniques. While molecular beam spectra can be readily compared to astronomical observations, the band positions measured in Ne and Ar matrices are extrapolated to obtain rather good estimates for the same transitions in the gas phase. Absolute absorption cross sections are determined for gas-phase and matrix spectra by comparing them with calibrated solution spectra. All laboratory results are analyzed and discussed in view of the role that PAHs can play as carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). Our studies suggest that regular neutral PAHs are not responsible for any of the known strong DIBs.

Density functional theory calculations of stable isomers for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)–(H2O)4 complexes

Stable isomers of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) tetrahydrates, TFA–(H2O)4, have been explored by using density functional theory calculations. With the structural constraints assuming a polycyclic skeleton and homodromicity of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, structure optimization and vibrational calculations were performed for 34 isomeric structures (31 for neutral and 3 for ion-pair species, respectively) at the B971/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level. We found that the edge-sharing bicyclic “book-type” isomer is at the global minimum and more stable than the monocyclic structure by ca. 266cm−1. We concluded that the observation of the zwitter-ionic structure in Ar matrices should be difficult, since it was predicted to be unstable by ca. 2500cm−1 energetically.

Matrix isolation and spectroscopic properties of the methylsulfinyl radical CH3(O)S˙

The atmospherically highly relevant methylsulfinyl radical CH3(O)S˙ was generated thermally under flash pyrolysis conditions and isolated in Ar matrices at 10 K; the allyl radical is a byproduct. CH3(O)S˙ and its D3- and (13)C-isotopologues were characterized through the excellent agreement between experimental and computed IR and UV/Vis spectra.