Matrix isolation and theoretical study of the photochemical reaction of CH3CN with CrO2Cl2 and OVCl3

The matrix isolation technique has been combined with theoretical calculations to identify and characterize the photoproducts in the reactions of CH₃CN with CrCl₂O₂ and OVCl₃. Twin jet co-deposition of these reagents led to the formation of a 1:1 molecular complex which was observed using UV/visible spectroscopy. Irradiation of these matrices with light of λ>300 nm led to the observation of new bands in the infrared spectra, the most intense of which was seen at 1942 cm⁻¹ for the CrCl₂O₂/CH₃CN system. The product bands are assigned to the ²η complexes of acetonitrile n-oxide with CrCl₂O and VCl₃, respectively. Identification of these species was supported by extensive isotopic labeling (²H and ¹⁵N), as well as by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,2p) density functional calculations.