Matrix-isolation FTIR Spectroscopy Research Articles

Photo-transformations of 2-aminothiazole-4-carboxylic acid in low-temperature matrices

The structure, spectroscopic properties and photo-induced conformational changes of 2-aminothiazole-4-carboxylic acid (ACA) isolated in argon and nitrogen matrices were studied using matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy and DFT calculations undertaken at the B3LYPD3/6–311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory. Out of 18 stable isomers, the three most stable structures with the five-membered ring stabilized by two C=C and C=N double bonds and with different arrangement of the carboxyl group were identified in both matrices after deposition. Conformer ACA1 has trans and conformers ACA2 and ACA3 have cis conformation of the COOH group and the calculated abundance of 69.5%, 18.2% and 12.2%, respectively. Following irradiation at 285 nm, a rotation of the OH group around the C–O bond in ACA1 was detected leading to increase of ACA2. The corresponding reverse photo-rotamerization was detected at 296 nm, resulting in the recovery of the initial isomer ACA1. Upon NIR irradiation a dominant process was rotamerization within the carboxylic group leading to changes in the population of the ACA1 trans and ACA2 cis forms.

Weakly bound complexes of 1,2,3-triazole with nitrogen and carbon dioxide isolated in solid argon: A combined FT-IR matrix isolation and theoretical investigation

Matrix isolation FT-IR spectroscopy was combined with quantum-chemical calculations in order to characterize complexes of 1,2,3-triazole (3TR) with nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Geometries of the possible 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, as well as 3TR dimers, were optimized at the DFT (B3LYP-D3) level of theory with the 6–311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. Six different 3TR⋯N2 structures of the 1:1 stoichiometry were optimized which are characterized by weak hydrogen bonds (N-H⋯N and C-H⋯N) and/or Van der Waals type interactions (N⋯C, N⋯N, N⋯π). Two the most stable geometries, both containing a N-H⋯N bridge, were identified experimentally in solid argon. As for 3TR⋯CO2 complexes, out of two minima located on the potential energy surface, only one with a strongly bent N-H⋯O hydrogen bond was detected in the matrix after deposition. In both cases, only annealing experiments at 32 K resulted in the formation of small amounts of 1:2 structures.

Photo-Induced Reactions between Glyoxal and Hydroxylamine in Cryogenic Matrices.

In this paper, the photochemistry of glyoxal–hydroxylamine (Gly–HA) complexes is studied using FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The irradiation of the Gly–HA complexes with the filtered output of a mercury lamp (λ > 370 nm) leads to their photoconversion to hydroxyketene–hydroxylamine complexes and the formation of hydroxy(hydroxyamino)acetaldehyde with a hemiaminal structure. The first product is the result of a double hydrogen exchange reaction between the aldehyde group of Gly and the amino or hydroxyl group of HA. The second product is formed as a result of the addition of the nitrogen atom of HA to the carbon atom of one aldehyde group of Gly, followed by the migration of the hydrogen atom from the amino group of hydroxylamine to the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group of glyoxal. The identification of the products is confirmed by deuterium substitution and by MP2 calculations of the structures and vibrational spectra of the identified species.

Structure, Spectra and Photochemistry of 2-Amino-4-Methylthiazole: FTIR Matrix Isolation and Theoretical Studies.

The structure, tautomerization pathways, vibrational spectra, and photochemistry of 2-amino-4-methylthiazole (AMT) molecule were studied by matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy and DFT calculations undertaken at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory. The most stable tautomer with the five-membered ring stabilized by two double C=C and C=N bonds, was detected in argon matrices after deposition. When the AMT/Ar matrices were exposed to 265 nm selective irradiation, three main photoproducts, N-(1-sulfanylprop-1-en-2-yl)carbodiimide (fp1), N-(1-thioxopropan-2-yl)carbodiimide (fp2) and N-(2-methylthiiran-2-yl)carbodiimide (fp3), were photoproduced by a cleavage of the CS–CN bond together with hydrogen atom migration. The minor photoreaction caused by the cleavage of the CS–CC bond and followed by hydrogen migration formed 2-methyl-1H-azirene-1-carbimidothioic acid (fp15). We have also found that cleavage of the CS–CN bond followed by disruption of the N–C bond produced cyanamide (fp11) and the C(CH3)=CH–S biradical that transformed into 2-methylthiirene (fp12) and further photoreactions produced 1-propyne-1-thiole (fp13) or methylthioketene (fp14). Cleavage of the CS–CC bond followed by disruption of the N–C bond produced propyne (fp22) and the S–C(NH2)=N biradical that transformed into 3-aminethiazirene (fp23); further photoreactions produced N-sulfanylcarbodiimide (fp25). As a result of these transformations, several molecular complexes were identified as photoproducts besides new molecules in the AMT photolysis process.

Spectroscopy and radiation-induced chemistry of an atmospherically relevant CH2F2…H2O complex: Evidence for the formation of CF2…H2O complex as revealed by FTIR matrix isolation and ab initio study

Difluoromethane is considered among the environment friendly alternatives to the ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons. Due to its chemical inertness and lack of UV absorption above 200 nm, this compound can easily come to the upper layers forming complexes with widely abundant atmospheric components, such as water. The radiation-induced degradation of this compound and its complexes may be significant for reliable prediction of its long-term evolution in the environment as well as for development of new ways for its removal. In this work we have studied the vibrational spectroscopic properties and mechanisms of the radiation-induced decay of the CH2F2⋯H2O under the action of X-rays using matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The IR spectrum of the complex in an argon matrix was characterized for the first time and assigned to a hydrogen-bonded structure with a binding energy of 11.1 kJ/mol (2.65 kcal/mol) (CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory). Complexation with water leads to a certain suppression of the efficiency of the radiation-induced decomposition of difluoromethane. The obtained results provide evidence for the radiation-induced formation of previously unreported CF2⋯H2O complex (in addition to other oxygen containing molecules, such as COF2 and CO). As demonstrated by calculations, the new difluorocarbene complex reveals a hydrogen bond and it is characterized by a binding energy of 5.73 kJ/mol (1.37 kcal/mol) (CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory).

Coronene-uracil complexes embedded in argon matrices: FTIR spectroscopy and quantum-mechanical calculations

We employ low-temperature matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations to study the interaction between nucleobase uracil and coronene which models the graphene surface. To observe the dimer FTIR spectrum, we use a quartz microbalance that allows us to produce matrix samples with precisely determined concentrations of coronene and uracil (with the concentration ratio of 2.5:1:1000 for coronene:uracil:argon). The interaction between coronene and uracil results in spectral shifts of uracil spectral bands. These shifts do not exceed 10 cm−1. The maximum shifts are observed for the C=O stretching and NH out-of-plane vibrations of uracil. The structures and interaction energies of stacked and H-bonded coronene-uracil complexes are calculated at the DFT/B3LYP(GD3BJ)/aug-cc-pVDZ and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ levels of theory. In total, 19 stable stacked and two H-bonded coronene-uracil dimer structures are found in the calculations. The interaction energy obtained for the most stable stacked dimer is −12.1 and −14.3 kcal/mol at the DFT and MP2 levels, respectively. The interaction energies of the H-bonded dimers do not exceed − 3 kcal/mol. The IR spectra of the studied monomeric molecules and of all the dimers are calculated at the DFT/B3LYP(GD3BJ)/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. The spectral shifts of the most stable stacked coronene-uracil dimer obtained in the calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results.

A hydrogen-bonded CHF⋯HF complex: IR spectra and unusual photochemistry.

A hydrogen-bonded CHF⋯HF complex was characterized by FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Three possible structures of this complex were found at the coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)/L3a_3] level of theory. The comparison between the experiment and theory reveals that the most stable structure with the binding energy of 6.48 kcal/mol is formed upon x-ray irradiation of isolated CH2F2 molecules in noble gas matrices (Ne, Ar, Xe). This species appears to be the first known intermolecular complex of monofluorocarbene, and its identification was unambiguously proved by IR absorptions corresponding to HF deformation (libration), CF stretching, H-C-F bending, and CH and HF stretching modes. It is worth noting that the corresponding spectral features in an argon matrix were previously tentatively ascribed to CH2F2 +· and HF⋯CHF-· [L. Andrews and F. T. Prochaska, J. Chem. Phys. 70, 4714 (1979)], but the calculations performed in the present study definitely support the re-assignment. The observed CHF⋯HF complex can be converted to the parent CH2F2 under the action of light with λ < 525 nm. The plausible mechanism of this conversion using the conical intersection concept is discussed.

Interaction of SiCl2 with CO2 in Ar matrices

A 1: 1 photostable complex between dichlorosilylene and CO2 was detected using matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy. The photostability can be attributed to the existence of photochemical equilibria between this complex and products of its isomerization, first of all, a complex of dichlorosilanone with CO, which are strongly shifted to the complex. A detailed computational study of the potential energy surface of the SiCl2 + CO2 system was carried out.

A matrix isolation and Ab initio study on C2H6…HCN complex: An unusual example of hydrogen bonding

Hydrogen bonding between saturated alkanes and HX (X is an electronegative fragment) represents a unique type of interaction of this kind. In this work we report a first experimental and ab initio study on HCN…C2H6 complex using FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and MP2/CBS calculations. According to theoretical results, three forms of HCN…C2H6 are possible: two with C(HCN)…C1(C2H6) and H(HCN)…C2(C2H6); C(HCN)…C1(C2H6) and N(HCN)…C2(C2H6) contacts and hydrogen-bonded H(HCN)…C(C2H6) axial symmetry structure (the interaction energies are 0.85, 0.79 and 0.77 kcal/mol respectively). Nevertheless, only the last structure is stabilized upon experimental conditions. The hydrogen-bonded complex is spectroscopically characterized by blue shifts of HCN bending (+9.4 cm−1) and CH3 rocking (+9.0 and +11.3 cm−1) and red shifts of H−CN stretching (−24.9 and −20.1 cm−1) and CH3 symmetry stretching (−4.7 cm-1) vibrations. The experiment with deuterated HCN proves this assignment. The obtained results are in good agreement with the previous rotational spectroscopy study.

Infrared spectra and photodecomposition of benzohydroxamic acid isolated in argon matrices

The structure and spectra of the benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) molecule were studied by matrix isolation FT-IR spectroscopy and molecular orbital calculations undertaken at the MP2/6–311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. In consonance with theoretical predictions, 1Z represents the most stable keto tautomer in the gas phase, being the dominant species trapped in argon matrices, while the 2Z tautomer also contributes to the spectrum of the isolated BHA. The abundances calculated at the temperature of evaporation of BHA are equal to 80.6% and 19.2% for 1Z and 2Z tautomers of BHA, respectively, which is in consonance with the experimental relative abundance values (74.4% for 1Z and 25.6% for 2Z). The irradiation of the C6H5CONHOH/Ar matrices with the full output of the Xe arc lamp leads to the formation of the C6H5NHOH⋯CO (1) and C6H5NCO⋅⋅⋅H2O (2) complexes. The comparison of the theoretical spectra with the experimental ones allowed to determine the structures of the complexes formed in the matrix. The mechanisms of the reaction channels leading to formation of the photoproducts are proposed. It is concluded that the first step in formation of the complex (1) is the cleavage of the C–N bond, whereas the creation of the complex (2) is due to the scission of the N–O bond.

Insights into the Photodecomposition of Azidomethyl Methyl Sulfide: A S2/S1 Conical Intersection on Nitrene Potential Energy Surfaces Leading to the Formation of S-Methyl-N-sulfenylmethanimine.

UV photodecomposition of azidomethyl methyl sulfide (AMMS) yields a transient S-methylthiaziridine which rapidly evolves to S-methyl-N-sulfenylmethanimine at 10 K. This species was detected by infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy. The mechanism of the photoreaction of AMMS has been investigated by a combined approach, using low-temperature matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy in conjunction with two theoretical methods, namely, complete active space self-consistent field and multiconfigurational second-order perturbation. The key step of the reaction is governed by a S2/S1 conical intersection localized in the neighborhood of the singlet nitrene minimum which is formed in the first reaction step of the photolysis, that is, N2 elimination from AMMS. Full assignment of the observed infrared spectra of AMMS has been carried out based on comparison with density functional theory and second-order perturbation Møller-Plesset methods.

Photoinduced reversible isomerization of 9H-fluorene into 1H-fluorene by means of hydrogen-atom migration and the lowest electronically excited triplet state studied by matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy

Photoinduced reversible intramolecular hydrogen-atom migration between 9H-fluorene and 1H-fluorene isolated in an Ar matrix is found by FTIR spectroscopy with an aid of DFT calculation. The forward isomerization from 9H-fluorene to 1H-fluorene occurs upon UV irradiation (λ ≥ 295 nm), while the backward isomerization occurs upon λ ≥ 320 nm light irradiation. The less stable isomer, 1H-fluorene, is identified by comparison of the measured IR spectrum with the corresponding simulated spectral pattern obtained at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. In addition, an IR spectrum of 9H-fluorene in the T1 state is measured during UV irradiation (λ ≥ 275 nm).

Communication: A hydrogen-bonded difluorocarbene complex: Ab initio and matrix isolation study.

Structure and spectroscopic features of the CF2⋯HF complexes were studied by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level and matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy. The calculations predict three stable structures. The most energetically favorable structure corresponds to hydrogen bonding of HF to the lone pair of the C atom (the interaction energy of 3.58 kcal/mol), whereas two less stable structures are the H⋯F bonded complexes (the interaction energies of 0.30 and 0.24 kcal/mol). The former species was unambiguously characterized by the absorptions in the FTIR spectra observed after X-ray irradiation of fluoroform in a xenon matrix at 5 K. The corresponding features appear at 3471 (H-F stretching), 1270 (C-F symmetric stretching, shoulder), 1175 (antisymmetric C-F stretching), and 630 (libration) cm-1, in agreement with the computational predictions. To our knowledge, it is the first hydrogen-bonded complex of dihalocarbene. Possible weaker manifestations of the H⋯F bonded complexes were also found in the C-F stretching region; however, their assignment is tentative. The H⋯C bonded complex is protected from reaction yielding a fluoroform molecule by a remarkably high energy barrier (23.85 kcal/mol), so it may be involved in various chemical reactions.

Experimental determination of the absolute infrared absorption intensities of formyl radical HCO

Formyl radical HCO is an important reactive intermediate in combustion, atmospheric and extraterrestrial chemistry. Like in the case of other transients, the lack of knowledge of the absolute IR intensities limits the quantitative spectroscopic studies on this species. We report the first experimental determination of the absorption intensities for the fundamental vibrational bands of HCO. The measurements have been performed using matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy. Determination of the values was based on the repeated photodissociation and thermal recovery of the HCO radical using the known value of the absorption coefficient of CO. The experimentally determined values (93.2±6.0, 67.2±4.5, and 109.2±6.6kmmol−1 for the ν1, ν2, and ν3 modes, respectively) have been compared to the calculated IR intensities obtained by DFT and UCCSD(T) computations.

Structural and spectroscopic properties of complexes formed between HNCS and SO2 in low temperature matrices

Matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy has been combined with quantum chemical calculations in the aim to characterize complexes of isothiocyanic acid HNCS with SO2. The geometries of the 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 complexes were optimized at the MP2 and DFT (B3LYPD3) levels of theory with the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. Five different HNCS⋯SO2 structures of the 1:1 stoichiometry were optimized. Three of them involve a weak NH⋯O hydrogen bond whereas two other geometries are stabilized by van der Waals interactions of various types. The HNCS/SO2/Ar spectra analysis evidences that at least one of the three hydrogen bonded structure is present after deposition of the matrices whereas the most stable van der Waals HNCS⋯SO2 structure as well as complexes of the 1:2 stoichiometry were detected upon annealing.

Matrix isolation FTIR study of hydrogen-bonded complexes of methanol with heterocyclic organic compounds

Hydrogen bonded complexes of heterocyclic compounds with methanol were studied using matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Matrix isolation study of the early intermediates in the ozonolysis of selected vinyl ethers

The Criegee mechanism of the ozonolysis reaction of vinyl ethers has been observed by matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy.

Theoretical DFT and matrix isolation FTIR studies of 2-(1,2,4-triazolyl)phenol isomers

The structure, isomerization pathways and vibrational spectra of the important heterocyclic 2-(1,2,4-triazolyl)phenol molecule were investigated by DFT calculations and matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy. Among forty-five minima located on PES three isomers with intramolecular hydrogen bond OH⋯N, 2-TRP1, 1-TRP1 and 1-TRP2, are the most stable forms with the calculated abundance of 83.4%, 10.3% and 6.0%, respectively. The presented FTIR results allow identification and characterization of these species. Several hydrogen bond parameters such as OH bond distance, νOH wavenumber shift and occupancy of the antibonding σ∗(OH) orbital were found to be linearly related with the estimated interaction energy.

N-Hydroxyurea dimers: A matrix isolation and theoretical study

The dimerization of N-hydroxyurea (NH2CONHOH) has been investigated by FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(2d,2p) calculations. The analysis of NH2CONHOH/Ar matrix spectra and comparison with theoretical ones reveal the formation of two types of dimers with a strong OH⋯O hydrogen bond. There is an additional weak interaction between the oxygen atom of the OH group of the proton donor molecule and the NH or NH2 group of the proton acceptor in both dimers, respectively. The identified structures correspond to local minima on the PES. The formation of the less stable structures not the most stable ones indicates that the creation of N-hydroxyurea dimers is related to the dipole-dipole interaction at the initial stage of the dimerization process, which favours generation of polar dimers.

Donor-Acceptor Complexes between Ammonia and Sulfur Trioxide: An FTIR and Computational Study.

The complexes of ammonia with sulfur trioxide have been studied using FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and DFT/B3LYP calculations with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. The NH3/SO3/Ar matrixes were prepared in two different ways. In one set of experiments the matrix was prepared by the simultaneous deposition of the NH3/Ar mixture and SO3 vapor from the thermal decomposition of K2S2O7. In the second set of experiments thermolysis products of sulfamic acid were trapped in an argon matrix. Both methods of matrix preparation led to the formation of the H3N·SO3 electron donor-acceptor complex that was characterized earlier. In the matrixes comprising thermolysis products of sulfamic acid, in addition to H3N·SO3, the H3N-SO3···NH3 complex (II(D)) was also identified. The identity of the complex was confirmed by comparison of the experimental and theoretical spectra of H3N-SO3···NH3 and D3N-SO3···ND3. The performed calculations show that in H3N-SO3···NH3 the two N atoms and the S atom are collinear; the two S-N bonds are nonequivalent, one is much shorter (2.230 Å) than the other one (2.852 Å). In the AIM topological analysis, the interaction energy decomposition and topological properties of the electron localizability indicator (ELI-D) allowed us to categorize the stronger N-S bond in the II(D) complex as a dative bond and to assume that the fragile N-S bond is a consequence of a weak electron-donor-acceptor interaction. The calculations indicate that the identified II(D) complex corresponds to a local minimum on the PES of the NH3/SO3 system of 2:1 stoichiometry. The (NH3)2SO3 complex, II(HB), corresponding to a global minimum is 7.95 kcal mol(-1) more stable than the II(D) complex. The reason that the II(D) complex is present in the matrix but not the II(HB) complex is discussed.