Reaction of photogenerated fluorine atoms with dopant molecules in solid argon

The products of reactions of dopant CH₄ molecules with F atoms diffusing in solid argon at 20–30 K were identified by ESR and FTIR spectroscopy. The F atoms stabilized in the matrix were generated by UV photolysis of Ar?CH₄(CD₄)?F (1000∶1∶1) samples at 13 K. Subsequent heating above 20 K results in thawing off diffusion of the F atoms and formation of products of their reaction with CH₄: radical-molecular complexes^·CH₃?HF (^·CD₃?DF) and radicals^·CH₃ (^·CD₃). The ESR spectra of the radicala are similar to those observed for matrix-isolated^·CH₃. The^·CH₃?HF complexes are characterized by the IR band of HF stetching vibration at 3764 cm^?1. Two additional splittings on the H (a _H·=2 G) and F(a _F=16G) nuclei of the HF molecule appeal in the ESR spectrum of the complex. The latter splitting is retained in the^·CD₃?DF complex, whereA _D· <0.3G The rate constant of the reaction CH₄+F→^·CH₃+HF is equal to ?10^?25 cm³s^?1 at 20 K. Its activation energy (1.7±0.2 kcal mol^?1) is ?0.5 kcal mol^?1 greater than that in the gas phase. The collinear C_3v-configuration of the^·CH₃?HF complex, which is similar to the configuration of the reagents in the transition state of the reaction considered, was established by the comparison of the exprrimental constants of hyperfine coupling with the results of the quantum-chemical calculation.