Kr Matrices Research Articles

Radiation-induced phenomena in thermally treated Kr matrices

The effect of thermal treatment on relaxation phenomena in Kr matrices irradiated with a low-energy electron beam has been studied. The experiments were carried out using measurements of the relaxation emissions of preirradiated Kr samples, which were unannealed and annealed before exposure to an electron beam. Three types of emissions were monitored in a correlated real-time manner: thermally stimulated luminescence, thermally stimulated exoelectron emission, and total yield of particles via pressure measurements. The energy levels of defects were estimated from the thermally stimulated luminescence data of the annealed sample. Two types of electron-hole traps created by electronic excitation were identified: close pairs and distant ones. Additional confirmation of the “excited state” mechanism of defect formation was obtained. Analysis of the correlation of yields and the effect of thermal treatment gave additional arguments in support of the crowdion model of anomalous low-temperature post-desorption from pre-irradiated Kr matrices.

Structure, Vibrational Spectra, and Cryogenic MatrixPhotochemistry of 6-Bromopyridine-2-carbaldehyde: From the Single Molecule of the Compound to the Neat Crystalline Material

6-Bromopyridine-2-carbaldehyde (abbreviated as BPCA) is used both as a building block in supramolecular chemistry and as a ligand for transition metal catalysts and luminescent complexes. In this study, the structure and vibrational spectra of BPCA were investigated in both the room temperature neat crystalline phase and for the compound isolated in cryogenic Ar, Kr and Xe matrices. The experimental studies were complemented by quantum chemical DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. For the crystalline compound, infrared and Raman spectra were obtained and interpreted. Comparison of the obtained infrared spectrum of the crystal with those obtained for the isolated molecules of BPCA in the studied cryomatrices helped to conclude that the intermolecular interactions in the crystal do not significantly perturb the intramolecular vibrational potential. Structural analysis further supports the existence of weak coupling between the intermolecular interactions and the structure of the constituting molecular units in crystalline state. The intermolecular interactions in the BPCA crystal were also evaluated by means of Hirshfeld analysis, which revealed that the most important interactions are weak and of the H…N, H…O, H…H, H…Br and Br…Br types. The conformer of BPCA present in the crystal was found to correspond to the most stable form of the isolated molecule (trans), which bears stabilizing C-H…O=C and C(=O)H…N interactions. This conformer was shown to be the single conformer present in the as-deposited cryogenic matrices prepared from the room temperature gaseous compound. Broadband UV irradiation of matrix-isolated BPCA (λ ≥ 235 nm) resulted in the conversion of the trans conformer into the higher-energy cis conformer, where repulsive C-H…H-C(=O) and C=OLP…LPN (where LP designates a lone electron pair) interactions are present, and decarbonylation of the compound with formation of 2-bromopyridine (plus CO). The decarbonylation reaction was found to be more efficient in the more polarizable Xe matrix, indicating stabilization of the radicals initially formed upon breaking of the C-C(HO) and C-H (aldehyde) bonds in this medium, and testifying the occurrence of the decarbonylation reaction with involvement of radical species. TD-DFT calculations were used to access the nature of the excited states associated with the observed UV-induced reactions. As a whole, this study provides fundamental data to understand the physicochemical behavior of the compound, bridging the properties of the isolated molecule to those of the neat crystalline com-pound. Such information is of fundamental importance for the understanding of the role of BPCA in supramolecular chemistry and to potentiate its applications in synthesis and as a ligand for transition metal catalysts and luminescent complexes.

The Radiation Chemistry of NH3···CO Complex in Cryogenic Media as Studied by Matrix Isolation.

The NH3···CO complex can be considered an important building block for cold synthetic astrochemistry leading to the formation of complex organic molecules, including key prebiotic species. In this work, we have studied the radiation-induced transformations of this complex in Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices using FTIR spectroscopy. On the basis of comparison with the quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD(T)/L2a_3 level of theory, it was found that the initial complex had the configuration with hydrogen bonding through the carbon atom of CO. Irradiation of the matrix isolated complex with X-rays at 6 K leads to the formation of a number of synthetic products, namely, HNCO (in all matrices), formamide NH2CHO, NH2CO, and HNCO-H2 (in argon and krypton). The matrix effect on the product distribution was explained by the involvement of different excited states of the complex in their formation. It was suggested that formamide results from the singlet excited states while other species mainly originate from triplet excited states. The latter states are efficiently populated through ion-electron recombination (in all matrices) and through intersystem crossing (particularly, in xenon). High yield of the recombination triplet states is a feature of the processes induced by high-energy radiation (in contrast to direct photolysis). NCO, CN, and NO were found as minor secondary products at high adsorbed doses. The astrochemical implications of the obtained results are discussed.

Direct evidence for a radiation-induced synthesis of acetonitrile and isoacetonitrile from a 1 : 1 CH4HCN complex at cryogenic temperatures: is it a missing link between inorganic and prebiotic astrochemistry?

Nitriles are important constituents of extraterrestrial media. Nitriles are supposed to play a crucial role in prebiotic chemistry occurring in the interstellar medium. In this work, we have investigated the low-temperature radiation-induced transformations of a 1 : 1 CH4HCN complex as a plausible precursor of the simplest nitriles using the matrix isolation approach with FTIR spectroscopic detection. The parent complexes isolated in a noble gas (Ng) matrix were obtained by deposition of the CH4/HCN/Ng gaseous mixture and characterized by comparison of experimental complexation-induced shifts of the HCN fundamentals with the results of the ab initio calculations. It was found that the X-ray irradiation of low-temperature matrices containing the isolated 1 : 1 CH4HCN complex resulted in the formation of acetonitrile (CH3CN) and isoacetonitrile (CH3NC) and it appears to be the first experimental evidence for the formation of C2 nitriles (acetonitrile and isoacetonitrile) from such a "building block". Additionally, a 1 : 1 CH4HNC complex was tentatively assigned to the irradiated Ar and Kr matrices. It is demonstrated that the matrix has a strong effect on the CH3CN/CH3NC yield ratio, which dramatically increases in the row Ar < Kr < Xe. Also, the efficiency of the radiation-induced formation of the CH4HNC complex was shown to decrease from Ar to Kr. It is believed that the proposed pathway for acetonitrile formation may be a significant step in the radiation-induced evolution leading to complex organic molecules and biomolecules under astrochemical conditions. Furthermore, the obtained results provide a prominent example of the impact of very weak intermolecular interactions on the radiation-induced transformations in cold media.

Effects of trapping site on the spectroscopy of 1P1 excited group 12 metal atoms in rare gas matrices

A molecular dynamics deposition model has been used to simulate the growth of rare gas matrices doped with atoms of the group 12 elements zinc, cadmium and mercury. This study investigates the sites occupied by Zn, Cd and Hg metal atoms when isolated in the solid rare gases. To probe the results, the resonance 1P1←1S0 transitions of the matrix-isolated metal atoms were calculated and compared with the recorded spectra of the M/RG solids. The theoretical spectroscopy obtained in this work was generated using the molecular dynamics with quantum transitions method. In Ne matrices the metal atoms preferably occupy tetra- and hexa-vacancy sites while in the case of Xe matrices, only the single vacancy site is formed. For Ar and Kr matrices Zn but especially Cd can be trapped in tetra- and hexa-vacancy sites in addition to single-vacancy sites, while Hg atoms show exclusive occupancy in single vacancy sites.

Infrared and quantum chemical studies of isoprene-methanol complexes in noble gas matrices

The interaction of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene) with a methanol molecule in low-temperature noble gas (Ar, Kr) matrices was investigated using infrared absorption spectroscopy. The spectra were more perplexed than those of the analogous isoprene-H2O complex, and consistent with the complicated potential energy landscape of this complex obtained from quantum chemical calculations. A comparison of vibrational peaks of 1:1 isoprene-CH3OH adducts and the quantum chemical calculations led to the conclusion that the CH3OH molecule in the complex H-bonds to the two unsaturated CC bonds, and that the binding energy of the complex is comparable to that of the C6H6-CH3OH complex. The natural bond orbital analyses revealed that the weak interaction between CH3 group of methanol and π-electrons augment the OH–π H-bonds in these complexes.

How Inert, Perturbing, or Interacting Are Cryogenic Matrices? A Combined Spectroscopic (Infrared, Electronic, and X-ray Absorption) and DFT Investigation of Matrix-Isolated Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, and Zinc Dibromides.

The interactions of FeBr2, CoBr2, NiBr2, and ZnBr2 with Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, CH4, and N2 matrices have been investigated using IR, electronic absorption, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies as well as DFT calculations. ZnBr2 is linear in all of the matrices. NiBr2 is linear in all but N2 matrices, where it is severely bent. For FeBr2 and CoBr2 there is a more gradual change, with evidence of nonlinearity in Xe and CH4 matrices as well as N2. In the N2 matrices, the presence of νNN modes blue-shifted from the "free" N2 values indicates the presence of physisorbed species, and the magnitude of the blue shift correlates with the shift in the ν3 mode of the metal dibromide. In the case of NiCl2 and NiBr2, chemisorbed species are formed after photolysis, but only if deposition takes place below 10 K. There was no evidence for chemisorbed species for NiF2 and FeBr2, and in the case of CoBr2 the evidence was not strong.

Magnetically Bistable Nitrenes: Matrix Isolation of Furoylnitrenes in Both Singlet and Triplet States and Triplet 3-Furylnitrene

Two simple acylnitrenes, 2-furoylnitrene (2) and 3-furoylnitrene (6), were generated through 266 nm laser photolysis of the corresponding azides. Both are magnetically bistable in cryogenic matrices, as evidenced by the direct observation of the closed-shell singlet state with IR spectroscopy in solid Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and N2 matrices (3-40 K) and the triplet state in toluene (10 K) with EPR spectroscopy (32: |D/hc| = 1.48 cm-1 and |E/hc| = 0.029 cm-1; 36: |D/hc| = 1.39 cm-1 and |E/hc|c = 0.039 cm-1). Subsequent visible-light and UV laser irradiations led to the formation of furyl isocyanates (3 and 7) and ring-opening product 3-cyanoacrolein (9-E and 9-Z), respectively, in which the elusive 3-furylnitrene (38) was also identified by IR and EPR spectroscopy (|D/hc| = 1.12 cm-1 and |E/hc| = 0.005 cm-1).

Spectroscopic characterization of the complex of vinyl radical and carbon dioxide: Matrix isolation and ab initio study.

We report on the preparation and vibrational characterization of the C2H3⋯CO2 complex, the first example of a stable intermolecular complex involving vinyl radicals. This complex was prepared in Ar and Kr matrices using UV photolysis of propiolic acid (HC3OOH) and subsequent thermal mobilization of H atoms. This preparation procedure provides vinyl radicals formed exclusively as a complex with CO2, without the presence of either CO2 or C2H3 monomers. The absorption bands corresponding to the ν5(C2H3), ν7(C2H3), ν8(C2H3), ν2(CO2), and ν3(CO2) modes of the C2H3⋯CO2 complex were detected experimentally. The calculations at the UCCSD(T)/L2a level of theory predict two structures of the C2H3⋯CO2 complex with Cs and C1 symmetries and interaction energies of -1.92 and -5.19 kJ mol-1. The harmonic vibrational frequencies of these structures were calculated at the same level of theory. The structural assignment of the experimental species is not straightforward because of rather small complexation-induced shifts and matrix-site splitting of the bands (for both complex and monomers). We conclude that the C1 structure is the most probable candidate for the experimental C2H3⋯CO2 complex based on the significant splitting of the bending vibration of CO2 and on the energetic and structural considerations.

Cryogenic Photochemical Synthesis and Electronic Spectroscopy of Cyanotetracetylene.

HC9N is a molecule of astrochemical interest. In this study, it was produced in cryogenic Ar and Kr matrices from UV-photolyzed diacetylene/cyanodiacetylene mixtures. Its strong phosphorescence was discovered and served for the identification of the compound. Vibrationally resolved phosphorescence excitation spectra gave insight into excited singlet electronic states. Two electronic systems were observed around 26 000-34 000 cm-1 and 35 000-50 000 cm-1. Energies of the second excited singlet and the lowest triplet state were derived from analysis of these systems. Vibrational and electronic spectroscopic features were assigned with the assistance of density functional theory calculations. Some trends concerning the electronic spectroscopy of HC2n+1N family molecules are presented.

Modelling the matrix shift on the vibrational frequency of ThO by DFT-D3 calculations.

Benchmark calculations with a goal to find dispersion-corrected DFT-D3 methods suitable for a reliable estimation of matrix shifts on the vibrational frequency were carried out on the ThO molecule in three rare gas (Rg = Ne, Ar, and Kr) matrices. The matrices were modelled by the explicit approach, in which a single and a double shell of Rg atoms around ThO was considered. The selection of exchange-correlation functionals was based on test calculations on triatomic ThO⋯Rg models. The B3LYP, PBE0, CAM-B3LYP, and LC-ωPBE functionals were found to be the best suited for the estimation of matrix shifts. The single shell of Rg's around ThO accounted for a major part of the shifts; the addition of a second Rg shell resulted only in a minor improvement. Continuum solvation models considerably overestimated the effect of Rg matrices both when the whole matrix was treated by the model and when the first shell was treated explicitly and the rest with a continuum solvation model.

Photochemical generation of H2NCNX, H2NNCX, H2NC(NX) (X = O, S) in low-temperature matrices.

The [NH2, C, N, O] and the [NH2, C, N, S] molecular systems were investigated by computational and matrix-isolation spectroscopic methods. The determination of the equilibrium structures and relative energies by CCSD(T) method was followed by the computation of the harmonic and anharmonic vibrational wavenumbers, infrared intensities, relative Raman activities, and UV excitation energies. These computed data were used to assist the identification of products obtained by UV laser photolysis of 3,4-diaminofurazan and 3,4-diaminothiadiazole in low-temperature Ar and Kr matrices. It is shown that two open-chain H2NNCX and H2NCNX and one cyclic H2NC(NX) (X = O, S) isomers are generated in the case of both systems. Except for H2NNCO and H2NCNS, the present study reports the first generation and spectroscopic identification of these compounds.

Matrix isolation and ab initio study on HCN/CO2 system and its radiation-induced transformations: Spectroscopic evidence for HCN⋯CO2 and trans-HCNH⋯CO2 complexes.

Spectroscopic characteristics and X-ray induced transformations of the HCN⋯CO2 complex in solid Ar and Kr matrices were studied by FTIR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level. The complex was prepared by deposition of the HCN/CO2/Ng gas mixtures (Ng = Ar or Kr). The comparison of the experiment and calculations prove formation of a linear, H-bonded NCH⋯OCO complex with a substantial red shift of the C-H stretching band and a blue shift of the H-C-N bending band in respect to the monomer. This result is in contrast with the previous gas-phase observations, where only T-shape complex was found. Irradiation of deposited matrices leads to formation of CN radicals and HNC molecules and subsequent annealing results in appearance of H2CN and trans-HCNH in both matrices plus HKrCN in the case of Kr. In the presence of CO2, the strongest absorption of trans-HCNH radical demonstrates an additional blue-shifted (by 6.4 cm-1) feature, which was assigned to the N-coordinated complex of this radical with CO2 on the basis of comparison with calculations. To our knowledge, it is the first experimentally observed complex of this radical. No evidence was found for HKrCN⋯CO2 complex, which was explained tentatively by steric hindrance.

Matrix-isolation and ab initio study of HKrCCCl and HXeCCCl.

We report on two new noble-gas molecules, HKrCCCl and HXeCCCl, prepared in low-temperature Kr and Xe matrices. These molecules are made by UV photolysis of HCCCl in the matrices and subsequent thermal annealing. The HCCCl precursor is produced by microwave discharge of a mixture of a matrix gas with trichloroethylene (HClC=CCl2). The assignments of the new noble-gas molecules are supported by deuteration experiments and quantum chemical calculations at the MP2(full) and CCSD(T) levels of theory with the def2-TZVPPD basis set. No evidence of ClXeCCH, which is computationally reliably stable, is found in the experiments. ClKrCCH as well as the Ar compounds HArCCCl and ClArCCH are not observed either, which is in agreement with the calculations.

Fluorinated noble-gas cyanides FKrCN, FXeCN, and FXeNC.

We report on three new noble-gas molecules, FKrCN, FXeCN, and FXeNC, prepared in low-temperature Kr and Xe matrices. These molecules are made by UV photolysis of FCN in the matrices and subsequent thermal annealing. The FCN precursor is produced by deposition of the matrix gas containing (FCN)3 through a microwave discharge. The new noble-gas molecules are assigned with the help of quantum chemical calculations at the MP2(full) and CCSD(T) levels of theory. Similar Ar compounds (FArCN and FArNC) as well as FKrNC are not found in these experiments, which is in agreement with the calculated energetics.

Generation and spectroscopic identification of NCXNC and NCNCX (X = S, Se) in low-temperature inert matrices

Equilibrium structures and relative energies of nine–nine (seven open-chain and two cyclic) isomers of the [2C,2N, X] systems (X=O, S, Se) were determined by the CCSD(T) method. Harmonic and anharmonic vibrational wavenumbers, infrared and Raman intensities, and UV excitation energies were also computed to assist in the spectroscopic identification of these species. The isomers of the [2C, 2N, S] and the [2C, 2N, Se] systems were studied by matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy. First, NCSCN and NCSeCN were prepared and investigated in low-temperature Ar and Kr matrices. Then these species were photolyzed in the matrices at 254nm, which led to the formation of other isomers. Comparing matrix-isolation and computed IR spectra, the previously known NCNCS molecule, and the novel NCSNC, NCSeNC, and NCNCSe species were identified among the photolysis products.

HXeI and HXeH in Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices: experiment and simulation.

Experimental and theoretical studies of HXeI and HXeH molecules in Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices are presented. HXeI exhibits the H-Xe stretching bands at 1238.0 and 1239.0 cm(-1) in Ar and Kr matrices, respectively, that are blue-shifted from the HXeI band observed in a Xe matrix (1193 cm(-1)) by 45 and 46 cm(-1). These shifts are larger than those observed previously for HXeCl (27 and 16 cm(-1)) and HXeBr (37 and 23 cm(-1)); thus, the matrix effect is stronger for less stable molecules. The results for HXeI are qualitatively different from all previous results on noble-gas hydrides with respect to the frequency order between Ar and Kr matrices. For previously studied HXeCl, HXeBr, and HXeCCH, the H-Xe stretching frequency is reliably (by >10 cm(-1)) higher in an Ar matrix than in a Kr matrix. In contrast, the H-Xe stretching frequency of HXeI in an Ar matrix is slightly lower than that in a Kr matrix. HXeH absorbs in Ar and Kr matrices at 1203.2 and 1192.1 cm(-1) (the stronger band for a Kr matrix), respectively. These bands are blue-shifted from the stronger band of HXeH in a Xe matrix (1166 cm(-1)) by 37 and 26 cm(-1), and this frequency order is the same as observed for HXeCl, HXeBr, and HXeCCH but different from HXeI. The present hybrid quantum-classical simulations successfully describe the main experimental findings. For HXeI in the 〈110〉 (double substitution) site, the order of the H-Xe stretching frequencies (ν(Xe) < ν(Ar) < ν(Kr)) is in accord with the experimental observations, and also the frequency shifts in Ar and Kr matrices from a Xe matrix are well predicted (30 and 34 cm(-1)). Both in the theory and experiment, the order of the H-Xe stretching frequencies differs from the case of HXeCl, which suggests the adequate theoretical description of the matrix effect. For HXeH in the 〈100〉 (single substitution) site, the order of the frequencies is ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar), which also agrees with the experiments. The calculated frequency shifts for HXeH in Ar and Kr matrices with respect to a Xe matrix (36 and 23 cm(-1)) are in a good agreement with the experiments. The present calculations predict an increase of the H-Xe stretching frequencies in the noble-gas matrices with respect to vacuum.

Matrix site effects on vibrational frequencies of HXeCCH, HXeBr, and HXeI: a hybrid quantum-classical simulation.

The matrix shifts of the H-Xe stretching frequency of noble-gas hydrides, HXeCCH, HXeBr, and HXeI in various noble-gas matrices (in Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices) are investigated via the hybrid quantum-classical simulations. The order of the H-Xe stretching frequencies is found to be ν(gas) < ν(Ne) < ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar) for HXeCCH and HXeBr, while it is ν(gas) < ν(Ne) < ν(Xe) < ν(Ar) < ν(Kr) for HXeI. This order is anomalous with respect to the matrix dielectric constants, and the calculated results reproduce the experimentally observed shifts quite successfully. We also find that the matrix shifts from the gas-phase values are Δν(HXeCCH) ≈ Δν(HXeCl) < Δν(HXeBr) < Δν(HXeI) in the same noble-gas matrix environments, which implies that the weakly bound molecules exhibit large matrix shifts. The local trapping site is analyzed in detail, and it is shown that a realistic modeling of the surrounding matrix environments is essential to describe the unusual matrix shifts accurately.

CH3 spin probe in solid Kr: Matrix structure and guest–host interaction

Experimental EPR data obtained for the methyl, CH3, radical trapped in quench condensed solid Kr are analyzed rendering the radical a probe for determination of regional disorder in Kr and similar solid matrices. Formation of regions of a highly disordered local matrix structure is proved. An attempt is presented of assessing a disorder parameter, based on the line broadening. The new structure is shown to be very effective in accumulating the radicals which are transiently mobile at the Kr 4.2K surface. We discuss a model of the trapped radical rotation, which includes somewhat different mechanism than the hindrance of the rotation about the C3 axis and the rotation about the in-plane C2 axes. The level of the thermal contact of the radical spin-rotation motion with the lattice degrees of freedom in regions of varying order in the Kr solid matrix was assessed by progressive saturation curve-fitting parameters related to the spin-lattice relaxation time T1 of the radical.

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.