Xe Matrix Research Articles

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.

Conformational Structure, Infrared Spectra and Light-Induced Transformations of Thymol Isolated in Noble Gas Cryomatrices

The conformational space of the natural product thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) was investigated using quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP and MP2 levels, which revealed the existence of four types of conformers differing in the orientation of the isopropyl and hydroxyl groups. Thymol monomers were isolated in noble gas (Ar and Xe) matrices (at 15 K) and characterized by IR spectroscopy. With the support of B3LYP harmonic vibrational calculations, the two most stable trans-OH-conformers, differing in the isopropyl orientation, were identified in the cryomatrices. The two less stable cis-OH conformers were not detected as they shall undergo fast tunneling to the most stable ones. Annealing experiments in a Xe matrix up to 75 K did not lead to any conversion between the two isolated conformers, which is in accordance with the significative energy barrier computed for rotamerization of the bulky isopropyl group (~24 kJ mol−1). Vibrational excitation promoted by broadband or by narrowband irradiation, at the 2ν(OH) frequencies of the isolated conformers, did not lead to any conversion either, which was interpreted in terms of a more efficient energy transfer to the hydroxyl rotamerization (associated with a lower energy barrier and a light H-atom) than to the isopropyl rotamerization coordinate. Broadband UV irradiation experiments (λ > 200 nm) led to a prompt transformation of matrix isolated thymol, with spectroscopic evidence suggesting the formation of isomeric alkyl-substituted cyclohexadienones, Dewar isomers and open-chain conjugated ketenes. The photochemical mechanism interpretation concords with that reported for analogous phenol derivatives.

A unified method for measuring noble gas isotope ratios in air, water, and volcanic gases via dynamic mass spectrometry

We describe a new method for the purification, transfer, and analysis of heavy noble gas isotope ratios in water, air, or volcanic gas samples using a dynamic dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). IRMS noble gas analysis offers the potential for orders-of-magnitude higher precision than traditional (static) noble gas mass spectrometry. However, due to both inherent IRMS requirements and challenges associated with sample collection and purification, measuring noble gases via IRMS has typically been limited to samples with an air-like elemental composition. Our new method allows for highly accurate and precise measurements of Ar, Kr, and Xe isotope ratios via IRMS, independent of sample composition, thereby opening the door to air, water, or volcanic gas analyses all made with the same technique. This approach exploits the fact that purified heavy noble gas samples are dominated by 40Ar, such that matching 40Ar ion beams between sample and reference gas streams results in pressure balancing. We further introduce new techniques for precisely quantifying and correcting for (i) Kr and Xe isotope non-linearity and matrix effects, (ii) interference of the low energy 40Ar tail on 36Ar and 38Ar ion beams, and (iii) the impact of short-term background fluctuations on trace Xe isotope measurements. We also present results from adsorption-desorption experiments with multiple adsorbent materials across a range of temperatures. For adsorption on silica gel, we find small equilibrium isotopic fractionation of Kr (εeq = −0.37 ± 0.04‰ amu−1, ±2 SE) and Xe (εeq = −0.06 ± 0.02‰ amu−1, ±2 SE) that may be relevant to studies of terrestrial Xe isotope signatures. We demonstrate that adsorption and desorption of heavy noble gases on silica gel at 77 K and 303 K, respectively, is highly reproducible and thus constitutes a viable and efficient method for transferring gases without reliance on cryostats or liquid helium.

Radiation-induced synthesis of formic acid in the H2O–CO system: A matrix isolation study

X-radiolysis of the noble-gas matrices containing both H2O and CO was investigated at 5 K using infrared spectroscopy. It was found that formic acid molecule (HCOOH) could be produced from the matrix-isolated H2O⋯CO complexes, either directly as a result of irradiation or upon the subsequent annealing activating the trans-HOCO + H reaction. The former way was observed in Kr, while the latter one in Xe matrix. Matrix-specific behavior and possible astrochemical implications are discussed.

Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions of the phenalenyl radical/1H-phenalene system at low temperatures

Phenalenyl radical was generated in situ in inert matrices by laser UV photolysis of 1H-phenalene, and was identified by recording laser induced fluorescence and IR spectra. Theoretical computations predict that the H atom addition to phenalenyl radical is barrierless, while the H atom abstraction from 1H-phenalene has only a small barrier. Upon annealing the Xe matrix after the photolysis, the radical and the H atom recombine, while H atom abstraction from 1H-phenalene is a possible explanation for additional spectral changes. These results show that the phenalenyl radical/1H-phenalene system can be a very effective catalyst in the formation of interstellar H2.

Triplet emission of atomic ytterbium isolated in a xenon matrix

The electronic transitions of ytterbium atoms in a solid Xe matrix grown at 4.8 K are investigated. Absorption bands are detected in the regions of the gas-phase 6s2 1S0 → 4f135d6s2 and 6s2 1S0 → 6s6p 1P1 transitions. Both bands indicate that Yb atoms occupy multiple trapping sites, of which three are identified. Emission induced by the 6s2 1S0 → 6s6p 1P1 excitation is found to be concentrated entirely in the region of the 6s6p 3PJ → 6s2 1S0 decay, whereas the singlet emission is completely quenched. Multiple emission peaks are observed and the effects of annealing and prolonged irradiation on their amplitudes are found to be significant and are interpreted as a consequence of Yb population transfer from one type of site to another. Modeling of the ground-state site structure and stability predicts three Yb/Xe occupation types, substitutional (ss), tetravacancy (tv) and hexavacancy (hv), in order of decreasing stability. Their tentative associations with observed absorption and emission features are discussed. Time correlated single photon spectroscopy is used to determine the lifetimes of the individual emission bands. They are found to be different from each other with indications of a mixture of short- and long- lived 6s6p 3PJ fine-structure components and demonstrate distinct temperature dependencies. A dramatic decrease in the lifetime of the emission peak tentatively assigned to the most stable site with temperature is explained by a competition between the radiative and non-radiative decay paths of the 6s6p 3P1 state. The mechanism of the latter can be attributed to electron–phonon coupling as confirmed by a model of the temperature-dependence of the lifetime.The electronic transitions of ytterbium atoms in a solid Xe matrix grown at 4.8 K are investigated. Absorption bands are detected in the regions of the gas-phase 6s2 1S0 → 4f135d6s2 and 6s2 1S0 → 6s6p 1P1 transitions. Both bands indicate that Yb atoms occupy multiple trapping sites, of which three are identified. Emission induced by the 6s2 1S0 → 6s6p 1P1 excitation is found to be concentrated entirely in the region of the 6s6p 3PJ → 6s2 1S0 decay, whereas the singlet emission is completely quenched. Multiple emission peaks are observed and the effects of annealing and prolonged irradiation on their amplitudes are found to be significant and are interpreted as a consequence of Yb population transfer from one type of site to another. Modeling of the ground-state site structure and stability predicts three Yb/Xe occupation types, substitutional (ss), tetravacancy (tv) and hexavacancy (hv), in order of decreasing stability. Their tentative associations with observed absorption and emission features are discu...

Influence of inert matrixes on the conformational switching of trimethyl phosphate at low temperatures through thermal effects

The conformational switching of trimethyl phosphate (TMP) in Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe matrixes was studied using infrared spectroscopy under isolated conditions at low temperatures. In all the inert matrixes, the vapor phase population of ground state C3(G±G±G±) and the higher energy C1(TG±G±) conformers of TMP is preserved during the initial deposition. However, on annealing the inert Ar/Kr/Xe matrixes, the conformational composition of TMP was irreversibly altered. In Ar and Kr matrixes, an interconversion from ground state C3(G±G±G±) to higher energy C1(TG±G±) conformer was observed whereas Xe presents an interesting variation. In Xe matrix, the higher energy C1(TG±G±) conformer completely depopulated with a concomitant increase in the population of the ground state C3(G±G±G±) conformer. In Ne matrix notably, no conformational interconversion was observed. Computations on the conformers of TMP were performed using B3LYP and M06-2X levels of theory with 6-311++G(d,p) and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. The effect of inert matrixes was modeled using Self-Consistent Reaction Field (SCRF) methods.

D2O clusters isolated in rare-gas solids: Dependence of infrared spectrum on concentration, deposition rate, heating temperature, and matrix material

The infrared absorption spectra of D2O monomers and clusters isolated in rare-gas matrices were systematically reinvestigated under the control of the following factors: the D2O concentration, deposition rate, heating temperature, and rare-gas species. We clearly show that the cluster-size distribution is dependent on not only the D2O concentration but also the deposition rate of a sample; as the rate got higher, smaller clusters were preferentially formed. Under the heating procedures at different temperatures, the cluster-size growth was successfully observed. Since the monomer diffusion was not enough to balance the changes in the column densities of the clusters, the dimer diffusion was likely to contribute the cluster growth. The frequencies of the bonded-OD stretches of (D2O)k with k = 2-6 were almost linearly correlated with the square root of the critical temperature of the matrix material. Additional absorption peaks of (D2O)2 and (D2O)3 in a Xe matrix were assigned to the species trapped in tight accommodation sites.

Radiation-induced transformations of isolated CH3CN molecules in noble gas matrices

The transformations of isolated CH3CN molecules in various solid noble-gas matrices (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) under the action of X-ray irradiation at 5K were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. The main products are CH3NC, CH2CNH and CH2NCH molecular isomers as well as CH2CN and CH2NC radicals. The matrix has a strong effect on the distribution of reaction channels. In particular, the highest relative yield of keteneimine (CH2CNH) was found in Ne matrix, whereas the formation of CH3NC predominates in xenon. It was explained by differences in the matrix ionization energy (IE) resulting in different distributions of hot ionic reactions. The reactions of neutral excited states are mainly involved in Xe matrix with low IE, while the isomerization of the primary acetonitrile positive ions may be quite effective in Ne and Ar. Annealing of the irradiated samples results in mobilization of trapped hydrogen atoms followed by their reactions with radicals to yield parent molecule and its isomers. The scheme of the radiation-induced processes and its implications for the acetonitrile chemistry in cosmic ices are discussed.

Structural Characterization and Photochemistry of 2-Chloro-6-Fluorobenzoic Acid Isolated in a Xenon Matrix

2-Chloro-6-fluorobenzoic acid (ClFBA) was studied by low temperature solid state FTIR spectroscopy in a Xe matrix and complemented by DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The ClFBA molecule exists in three different conformers, according to the theoretical calculations. The second and third conformers ( II , III ) are higher in energy than the most stable conformer ( I ) by ca. 17 kJ mol -1 , and bear a trans carboxylic acid moiety, while form I has this group in the cis conformation. According to the energy data predicted theoretically only the conformer I was expected to be present in the cryogenic xenon matrix, a result that was confirmed experimentally. Attempts for in situ generation and detection of forms II and III by near-IR (2 n OH; 6867 cm -1 ) excitation of conformer I indicated that in solid xenon, once produced, these conformers promptly relax by tunneling to the most stable conformer. Laser UV ( l = 235 nm) excitation of matrix-isolated ClFBA led to prompt decarboxylation of the compound, with production of CO 2 and 1-chloro-3-fluorobenzene (ClFB), whose vibrational signatures could be doubtlessly identified in the spectra of the photolysed matrix.

Evidence of a Nitrene Tunneling Reaction: Spontaneous Rearrangement of 2-Formyl Phenylnitrene to an Imino Ketene in Low-Temperature Matrixes.

Triplet 2-formyl phenylnitrene was generated by photolysis of 2-formyl phenylazide isolated in Ar, Kr, and Xe matrixes and characterized by IR, UV-vis, and EPR spectroscopies. Upon generation at 10 K, the triplet nitrene spontaneously rearranges in the dark to singlet 6-imino-2,4-cyclohexadien-1-ketene on the time scale of several hours. The intramolecular [1,4] H atom shift from the nitrene to the imino ketene occurs by tunneling, on the triplet manifold, followed by intersystem crossing. This case constitutes the first direct evidence of a tunneling reaction involving a nitrene.

Unraveling the conformational landscape of triallyl phosphate: matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory computations.

The conformations of triallyl phosphate (TAP) were studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. TAP was trapped in N2, Ar, and Xe matrixes at 12 K using an effusive source and the resultant infrared spectra recorded. The computational analysis on conformers of TAP is a challenging problem due to the presence of the large number of conformations. To simplify this problem, conformational analysis was performed on prototypical molecules such as dimethyl allyl phosphate (DMAP) and diallyl methyl phosphate (DAMP), to systematically arrive at the conformations of TAP. The above methodology discerned 131 conformations for TAP, which were found to contribute to the room temperature population. The computations were performed using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Vibrational wavenumber calculations were performed for the various conformers to assign the experimental infrared features of TAP, trapped in solid N2, Ar, and Xe matrixes.

Experimental and theoretical study of the HXeI⋯HCl and HXeI⋯HCCH complexes.

The HXeI⋯HCl and HXeI⋯HCCH complexes are studied computationally and experimentally in a Xe matrix. In the experiments, three bands of the HXeI⋯HCl complex and one band of the HXeI⋯HCCH complex in the H-Xe stretching region are observed. The monomer-to-complex shifts are +94, +111, and +155 cm(-1) for the HXeI⋯HCl complex and +49 cm(-1) for the HXeI⋯HCCH complex. The bands of the complexed HCl molecules are also observed with large red shifts from the HCl monomer (-187, -252, and -337 cm(-1)). The ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T)/def2-TZVPPD level of theory predict two stable structures for the HXeI⋯HCl complex with interaction energies of -3.72 and -0.28 kcal mol(-1) and one structure for the HXeI⋯HCCH complex with an interaction energy of -2.67 kcal mol(-1) and the calculated monomer-to-complex shifts are in a good agreement with experiment (in the case of HXeI⋯HCl, for the stronger structure). The HXeI molecules are decomposed by broad-band infrared light; however, the decomposition is much more efficient for the HXeI monomer than for the complexes studied here as well as for the previously studied HXeI⋯HI and HXeI⋯HBr complexes. In fact, the decomposition efficiency decreases as the monomer-to-complex shift of the H-Xe stretching mode increases.

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.

Infrared spectroscopic studies on 4-amino-6-oxopyrimidine in a low-temperature Xe matrix and crystalline polymorphs composed of double hydrogen-bonded ribbons

Infrared (IR) spectra of the enol and keto forms of 4-amino-6-oxopyrimidine (AOP) isolated in a low-temperature Xe matrix were recorded, where the change from the keto to the enol form was found to be induced by UV irradiation (λ>270nm). On the other hand, the hydrated crystal of AOP exhibited a similar IR spectrum to the anhydrous crystal by dehydration, suggesting that the dehydrated and anhydrous crystals are polymorphs. It has been found from the IR spectral analyses that the AOP crystal is dominated by infinite double H-bonded ribbons, which has been supported by quantum chemical calculations.

Vibrational Shifts of HXeCl in Matrix Environments

The hybrid quantum-classical simulations are performed to investigate the unusual vibrational spectral shifts of a noble-gas hydride HXeCl in matrix environments (in Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe matrixes). The high-level ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level are employed to construct interaction potential energy surfaces between HXeCl and noble-gas atoms (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe). The configurations of noble-gas atoms are sampled by the Monte Carlo simulations and the vibrational levels of HXeCl in the presence of the surrounding noble-gas atoms are solved by the DVR approach. It is found that the H-Xe stretching frequencies are blue-shifted from the isolated gas-phase value in all matrix environments and that the relative blue shifts are in good agreement with the experimental results (Ne < Xe < Kr), demonstrating that the explicit treatment of matrix environments around HXeCl is essential to reproduce the observed unusual vibrational shifts.

In-beam Mössbauer study of 57Mn implanted into a low-temperature xenon

The in-beam Mossbauer spectrum of 57Mn implanted into a Xe solid at 14 K was measured. Four singlets were observed in the spectrum, assigned to 57Fe + (3d7), 57Fe + (3d64s1), 57Fe0 (3d64s2), and 57Fe0 (3d74s1). The assignments were in agreement with calculated electron densities at nuclei reported in the literature. The β-decay of 57Mn did not disturb the surrounding Xe lattice, showing a singlet peak, and the excited states were stabilized in the time range of the Mossbauer measurements of ~100 ns. The production mechanism was explained in terms of the reduction of 57Mnx + and 57Fey + ions by free electrons in the Xe matrix.

Intrinsic lifetimes and kinetic stability in media of noble-gas hydrides

Noble-gas hydrides, generally prepared in noble-gas matrices, have fascinating chemical bonding and properties. However, very little is known on the kinetic stability of these compounds, and how it can be affected by different molecular environments and conditions. In this Letter, recent computational and experimental results bearing on this topic are discussed and analyzed. For the important case of HXeOH, there appears to be a gap between the predicted long lifetime for the isolated molecule and much shorter lifetime observed experimentally in a Xe matrix. Understanding of this gap is an important challenge in this field.

Competing effects of rare gas atoms in matrix isolation spectroscopy: A case study of vibrational shift of BeO in Xe and Ar matrices

We investigate the vibrational shift of beryllium oxide (BeO) in Xe matrix as well as in Ar matrix environments by mixed quantum-classical simulation and examine the origin of spectral shift in details. BeO is known to form strong chemical complex with single rare gas atom, and it is predicted from the gas phase calculations that vibrational frequencies are blueshifted by 78 cm(-1) and 80 cm(-1) upon formation of XeBeO and ArBeO, respectively. When the effects of other surrounding rare gas atoms are included by Monte Carlo simulations, it is found that the vibrational frequencies are redshifted by 21 cm(-1) and 8 cm(-1) from the isolated XeBeO and ArBeO complexes, respectively. The vibrational shift of XeBeO in Ar matrix is also calculated and compared with experimental data. In all simulations examined in this paper, the calculated vibrational frequency shifts from the isolated BeO molecule are in reasonable agreement with experimental values. The spectral shift due to the rare-gas-complex formation of RgBeO (Rg = Xe or Ar) is not negligible as seen in the previous studies, but it is shown in this paper that the effects of other surrounding rare gas atoms should be carefully taken into account for quantitative description of the spectral shifts and that these two effects are competing in vibrational spectroscopy of BeO in matrix environments.

Observation of CHF2Cl trimer in Xe matrix and calculations of stable isomers by density functional theory

Abstract Infrared spectra of CHF 2 Cl trimer have been assigned in Xe matrix. Twenty-six structural isomers have been obtained by DFT calculations at the B971/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level, and synthetic spectra based on these calculations showed reasonable agreement with the observed spectral pattern.