Reactions of late lanthanide metal atoms with water molecules: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

The reactions of late lanthanide metal atoms (Gd-Lu) with water molecules have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. The reaction intermediates and products were identified on the basis of isotopic substitution experiments and density functional theory calculations. All of the metal atoms except Lu react with water to form the M(H2O) complexes spontaneously upon annealing (M = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb). The Dy(H2O) and Ho(H2O) complexes are able to coordinate a second water molecule to form the Dy(H2O)2 and Ho(H2O)2 complexes. The M(H2O) complexes isomerize to the inserted HMOH isomers under visible light irradiation, which further decompose to give the MO and/or HMO molecules upon UV light irradiation. The M(OH)2 molecules (M = Gd-Lu) were also produced. The results have been compared with our earlier work covering the early lanthanide metal atoms (Nd, Sm, Eu) to observe the existent trends for the lanthanide metal atom reactions.     

Reaction of vinyl radical with oxygen: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

The reaction of vinyl radical with molecular oxygen in solid argon has been studied using matrix isolation infrared absorption spectroscopy. The vinyl radical was produced through high frequency discharge of ethylene. The vinyl radical reacted with oxygen spontaneously on annealing to form the vinylperoxy radical C(2)H(3)OO with the O-O bond in a trans position relative to the C-C bond, which is characterized by O-O stretching and out-of-plane CH(2) bending vibrations at 1140.7 and 875.5 cm(-1). The vinylperoxy radical underwent visible photon-induced dissociation to the CH(2)OH(CO) complex or CH(2)OH+CO, which has never been considered in previous studies. The CH(2)OH(CO) product was predicted to be more thermodynamically accessible than the previously reported major HCO+H(2)CO channel, and is most likely produced by hydrogen atom transfer from the first-formed H(2)CO-HCO pair in solid argon.     

Methane activation by titanium monoxide molecules: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

Reactions of titanium monoxides with methane have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Titanium derivatives of several simple oxyhydrocarbons have been prepared and identified. The titanium monoxide molecules prepared by laser evaporation of bulk TiO2 target reacted with methane to form the TiO(CH4) complex in solid argon, which was predicted to have C3v symmetry with the oxygen atom coordinated to one hydrogen atom of the methane molecule. The complex rearranged to the CH3Ti(O)H titano-acetaldehyde molecule upon visible (lambda > 500 nm) irradiation. The titano-acetaldehyde molecule sustained further photochemical rearrangement to the CH2Ti(H)OH titano-vinyl alcohol molecule, which was characterized to be a simple carbene complex involving agostic bonding. The CH2Ti(H)OH molecule reacted with a second methane to form the (CH3)2Ti(H)OH titano-isopropyl alcohol molecule spontaneously on annealing. The (CH3)2Ti(H)OH molecule also can be produced via UV photon-induced rearrangement of the CH3Ti(O)H(CH4) complex.     

Photolysis of water/dicyanoacetylene complexes: an infrared matrix isolation and theoretical study

The structure and energy of the 1:1 complexes formed between dicyanoacetylene and water (D₂O) in argon matrix are investigated using FTIR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations at the B3LYP/6-31g** level of theory. Two types of 1:1 complexes are observed. The first one corresponds to the NH structure characterized by a hydrogen bond between H₂O and one of the nitrogen of dicyanoacetylene. The second corresponds to the CO form which involves a van der Waals interaction between the Cβ of dicyanoacetylene and the oxygen of water.

These complexes were irradiated with an Hg–Xe lamp at 10 K. Two products were observed by FTIR spectroscopy. The first one corresponds to the Isonitrile:H₂O complexes formation. The second one, resulting from the reaction of water on the photolyzed dicyanoacetylene, corresponds to the cyanoketene:HCN complex formation.     

Reactions of late lanthanide metal atoms and methanol in solid argon: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

The reactions of laser-ablated late lanthanide atoms and methanol were studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations at the density functional theory level. Both terbium and lutetium atoms react with methanol spontaneously to form the CH(3)OTbH and CH(3)OLuH insertion products, which react further with another methanol molecule to give the Tb(OCH(3))(2) and Lu(OCH(3))(2) products as found previously for uranium. The reactions of Dy through Yb and methanol first produce Ln(CH(3)OH) complexes during sample annealing, which isomerize to the CH(3)OLnH insertion products on visible irradiation. The Ln-H stretching frequencies of the CH(3)OLnH molecules exhibit a unique trend from Tb to Lu, which is also reproduced by theoretical calculations at the B3LYP level of theory. Although the CH(3)LnOH molecules are predicted to be more stable than the O-H bond insertion products, formation of the C-O bond insertion isomers is kinetically prohibited as revealed by calculated potential energy surfaces.     

Conformations of trimethyl phosphite: a matrix isolation infrared and ab initio study

The conformations of trimethyl phosphite (TMPhite) were studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. TMPhite was trapped in a nitrogen matrix using an effusive source maintained at two different temperatures (298 and 410 K) and a supersonic jet source. The experimental studies were supported by ab initio computations performed at the B3LYP/6-31++G** level. Computations identified four minima for TMPhite, corresponding to conformers with C(1)(TG(±)G(±)), C(s)(TG(+)G(-)), C(1)(G(±)TT), and C(3)(G(±)G(±)G(±)) structures, given in order of increasing energy. Computations of the transition state structures connecting the C(s)(TG(+)G(-)) and C(1)(G(±)TT) conformers to the global minimum C(1)(TG(±)G(±)) structure were also carried out. The barriers for the interconversion of C(s)(TG(+)G(-)) and C(1)(G(±)TT) to the ground state C(1)(TG(±)G(±)) conformer were 0.2 and 0.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Comparison of conformational preferences of TMPhite with the related carbon compound, trimethoxymethane, and the organic phosphate, trimethyl phosphate, was also made using natural bond orbital analysis.     

Pentachlorocyclopropane/base complexes: matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and density functional study of C-H- - -N hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen-bonded complexes of pentachlorocyclopropane with the bases acetonitrile, ammonia, monomethylamine, and dimethylamine have been isolated and characterized for the first time in argon matrices at 16 K. Coordination of the proton of pentachlorocyclopropane (Pccp) to the electron donor (N) of the base was evidenced by red shifts of the CH stretching mode. These shifts, which range from 22 to 170 cm(-1), increase in the order CH3CN, NH3, (CH3)NH2, and (CH3)2NH. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP level agree well with experiment and support the formation of 1:1 complexes of Pccp/base. Distinct changes were observed in ring modes as well as CCl and CCl2 modes. The hydrogen bond energy of the complexes varies from 2.95 to 4.22 kcal/mol and is stronger than our previously studied bromocyclopropane-ammonia complex (2.35 kcal/mol, MP2).     

Reactions of early lanthanide metal atoms (Nd, Sm, Eu) with water molecules. A matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

The reactions of early lanthanide metal atoms Nd, Sm, and Eu with water molecules have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The reaction intermediates and products were identified on the basis of isotopic labeled experiments and density functional frequency calculations. The ground state metal atoms react with water to form the M(H2O) and M(H2O)(2) complexes spontaneously on annealing (M = Nd, Sm, Eu). The M(H2O) complexes isomerize to the inserted HMOH molecules under red light irradiation, which further decompose to give the metal monoxides upon UV light irradiation. The Nd(H2O)(2) complex decomposes to form the trivalent HNd(OH)(2) molecule, while the Sm(H2O)(2) and Eu(H2O)(2) complexes rearrange to the divalent Sm(OH)(2) and Eu(OH)(2) molecules under red light irradiation.     

Structure and photochemical behaviour of 3-azido-acrylophenones: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy study

(Z)-3-Azido-3-methoxycarbonyl-2-chloro-acrylophenone (MACBP) has been synthesized, isolated in low temperature argon and xenon matrices and studied by FTIR spectroscopy, complemented by DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The molecule was characterized both structurally and spectroscopically, and its photochemistry used to probe the mechanism of photo-induced conversion of 3-azido-acrylophenones into oxazoles. In situ UV irradiation (λ = 235 nm) of matrix-isolated MACBP yielded as primary photoproduct a 2H-azirine, which undergoes subsequent photoisomerization to methyl 4-chloro-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole-2-carboxylate. In a competitive process, a ketenimine is also formed upon photolysis of MACBP. The reported results indicate that this ketenimine must be formed from the starting 3-azido-acrylophenone via a Curtius type concerted rearrangement.     

Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding in formohydroxamic acid complexes with water and ammonia: infrared matrix isolation and theoretical study

The complexes of formohydroxamic acid with water and ammonia have been studied using FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy and MP2 calculations with a 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The analysis of the experimental spectra of the HCONHOH/H₂O(NH₃)/Ar matrixes indicates formation of strongly hydrogen-bonded complexes in which the NH group of formohydroxamic acid acts as a proton donor toward the oxygen atom of water or the nitrogen atom of ammonia. The NH stretching vibration of formohydroxamic acid exhibits 150 cm⁻¹ red shift in the complex with water and 443 cm⁻¹ red shift in the complex with ammonia as compared to the NH stretch of the HCONHOH monomer. The theoretical calculations indicate stability of five isomers for the water complex and three isomers for the ammonia complex. The most stable are the cyclic structures in which the water or ammonia molecules are inserted within the intramolecular hydrogen bond of the formohydroxamic acid molecule and act as proton donors for the CO group and proton acceptors for the OH group of the formohydroxamic acid molecule. In spite of their stability the cyclic structures have not been observed in the matrixes which indicates high energy barrier for their formation, the reaction of complex formation is under kinetic and not thermodynamic control.     

Nature of water in nacre: a 2D Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study

In this work, the interactions of aragonite and organic matrix in nacre with water are investigated using two-dimensional (2D) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The 2D-FTIR analysis revealed four bands in the OH stretching region at around 3550, 3445, 3272 and 3074 cm(-1). Two additional bands were found at around 3616 and 3282 cm(-1) after deconvolution of the nacre spectrum. The bands at around 3616 and 3550 cm(-1) are assigned to asymmetric and symmetric OH stretching of partially hydrogen bonded water molecules. The bands at around 3445 and 3272 cm(-1) are assigned to asymmetric and symmetric OH stretching of water molecules fully hydrogen bonded with surrounding water molecules. Presence of above bands in the nacre spectrum suggests that water, in form of clusters, is present in protein matrix and aragonite pores. Water may also hydrogen bond with the organic matrix. The bands observed at 3282 and 3074 cm(-1) are assigned to asymmetric and symmetric OH stretching of water molecules, chemisorbed on surfaces of aragonite platelets. Polarization experiments suggest that H-O-H plane of water molecules is along to c-axis of aragonite platelets.     

Complexes of atmospheric alpha-dicarbonyls with water: FTIR matrix isolation and theoretical study

The complexes of glyoxal (Gly), methylglyoxal (MGly), and diacetyl (DAc) with water have been studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) matrix isolation spectroscopy and MP2 calculations with 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The analysis of the experimental spectra of the Gly(MGly,DAc)/H2O/Ar matrixes indicates formation of one Gly...H2O complex, three MGly...H2O complexes, and two DAc...H2O ones. All the complexes are stabilized by the O-H...O(C) hydrogen bond between the water molecule and carbonyl oxygen as evidenced by the strong perturbation of the O-H, C=O stretching vibrations. The blue shift of the CH stretching vibration in the Gly...H2O complex and in two MGly...H2O ones suggests that these complexes are additionally stabilized by the improper C-H...O(H2) hydrogen bonding. The theoretical calculations confirm the experimental findings. They evidence the stability of three hydrogen-bonded Gly...H2O and DAc...H2O complexes and six MGly...H2O ones stabilized by the O-H...O(C) hydrogen bond. The calculated vibrational frequencies and geometrical parameters indicate that one DAc..H2O complexes, two Gly...H2O, and three MGly...H2O ones are additionally stabilized by the improper hydrogen bonding between the C-H group and water oxygen. The comparison of the theoretical frequencies with the experimental ones allowed us to attribute the calculated structures to the complexes present in the matrixes.     

Conformations of dimethylhydrogen phosphonate (DMHP): a matrix isolation infrared and ab initio study

The infrared spectra of dimethylhydrogen phosphonate (DMHP) isolated in nitrogen, argon and krypton matrices using an effusive source at 298 and 373 K have been recorded. Experiments were also performed using a supersonic jet source to look for conformational cooling in the expansion process. As a result of these experiments, infrared spectral characteristics of the ground and higher energy conformers of the DMHP have been identified for the first time. The structures of DMHP were optimized at the hybrid B3LYP and Hartree fock (HF) levels of theory using the 6-31++G** basis sets. Computationally, four minima were obtained corresponding to DMHP conformers with G (+/-)G (-/+), G (-)G (-), TG (+) and TG (-) structures in the order of increasing energy. Frequency calculations were done to confirm that the structures were indeed minima on the potential energy surface (PES). The computed frequencies corroborated well with the experimental matrix isolation infrared frequencies leading to definite assignments of the infrared features of DMHP, for the G (+/-)G (-/+) and TG (+) conformers. At B3LYP/6-31++G** level, the energy difference between the G (+/-)G (-/+) and G (-)G (-) conformer was 1.53 kcal/mol, and that between G (+/-)G (-/+) and TG (+), G (+/-)G (-/+) and TG (-) were 1.65 and 1.95 kcal/mol. Transition-state calculations were also carried out at B3LYP/6-31++G** level connecting the G (+/-)G (-/+) to G (-)G (-), TG (+) and TG (-) conformers. Computations indicated that the conformer interconversion between G (-)G (-) --> G (+/-)G (-/+) is barrierless, whereas the barriers for TG (+) --> G (+/-)G (-/+) and TG (-) --> G (+/-)G (-/+) are 1.47 and 0.88 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Tautomers of cytosine and their excited electronic states: a matrix isolation spectroscopic and quantum chemical study

We have measured the IR and UV spectra of cytosine in a low-temperature argon matrix. An attempt was made to determine the tautomeric ratios existing in the matrix, making use of the matrix-isolation IR spectrum and computed IR intensities of the tautomers in a least squares fitting procedure. The mole fractions are about 0.22 for oxo(-amino) form, 0.26 and 0.44 for the two rotamers, respectively, of the hydroxy(-amino) form and 0.08 for the (oxo-)imino tautomer. These ratios were then used to simulate the matrix-isolation UV spectrum as a composite of the individual spectra, the latter calculated ab initio at high levels of electron correlation theory. The agreement between simulated and experimental UV spectra seems satisfactory. This indicates that, in contrast to the solid state and solution spectra described up to now by the oxo(-amino) form alone, the reproduction of the matrix-isolation UV spectrum needs at least the hydroxy(-amino) and oxo(-amino) forms, and probably also the (oxo-)imino form.     

Fast nuclear spin conversion in water clusters and ices: a matrix isolation study

Single water molecules have been isolated in solid Ar matrices at 4 K and studied by rovibrational spectroscopy using FTIR in the regions of the ν(1), ν(2), and ν(3) modes. Upon nuclear spin conversion at 4 K, essentially pure para-H(2)O was prepared, followed by subsequent fast annealing generating ice particles. FTIR studies of the vapor above the condensed water upon annealing to T ≥ 250 K indicate fast reconversion of nuclear spin to equilibrium conditions. Our results indicate that nuclear spin conversion is fast in water dimers and larger clusters, which preclude preparation of concentrated samples of para-H(2)O, such as in ice or vapor.     

H-bonded clusters in the trimethylamine/water system: a matrix isolation and computational study

The environmentally important interaction products of trimethylamine (TMA) and water molecules have been observed by Matrix Isolation Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (MIS-FTIR). Infrared spectra of solid argon matrix layers, in which both TMA and H(2)O molecules were entrapped as impurities, were analyzed for bands in the ν(O-H) region, not seen in matrix layers containing either of the parent molecules alone. Results were interpreted on the basis of the emergence of several spectral band pairs and their red shifts from the position of the matrix isolated H(2)O monomers as compared to semiempirically scaled frequencies from the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations and empirical correlations with a large body of data on H-bonded complexes. Bands were assigned to a complex cluster of two TMA molecules flanking a closed ring of four H-bonded H(2)O molecules. The formation of this cluster is argued to be formed in the vapor phase (as opposed to being a result of diffusion of the trapped species) and is related to its large stabilization energy (enthalpy) because of strong cooperative effects in its H-bond system.     

FTIR matrix-isolation study of the reaction products of vanadium atoms with propene: observation of allylvanadium hydride as a precursor to sacrificial hydrogenation of propene

Vanadium atoms have been reacted with different partial pressures of propene in Ar under matrix-isolation conditions, and the products have been observed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Under dilute propene in Ar conditions, new features are observed in the IR spectra corresponding to a C-H insertion product, identified here as H-V-(η(3)-allyl). Use of d(3)-propene (CD(3)-CH═CH(2)) demonstrates that the initial V-atom insertion occurs at the methyl group of the propene molecule, and DFT calculations have been used to support the identity of the initial product. Upon increasing the partial pressure of propene, additional features corresponding to propane (C(3)H(8)) are observed, with the hydrogen-atom source for the observed hydrogenation demonstrated to be additional propene units. Analysis of a systematic increase in the partial pressure of propene in the system demonstrates that the yield of propane correlates with the decrease of the allyl product, demonstrating the H-V(allyl) species as a reactive intermediate in the overall hydrogenation process. An overall mechanism is proposed to rationalize the formation of the insertion product and ultimately the products of hydrogenation, which agrees with previous gas-phase and matrix-isolation work involving propene and the related system, ethene.     

Coordination of ScO+ and YO+ by multiple Ar, Kr, and Xe atoms in noble gas matrixes: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

The combination of matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and quantum chemical calculation results provide strong evidence that scandium and yttrium monoxide cations, ScO+ and YO+, coordinate multiple noble gas atoms in forming noble gas complexes. The results showed that ScO+ coordinates five Ar, Kr, or Xe atoms, and YO+ coordinates six Ar or Kr and five Xe atoms in solid noble gas matrixes. Hence, the ScO+ and YO+ cations trapped in solid noble gas matrixes should be regarded as the [ScO(Ng)5]+ (Ng = Ar, Kr, or Xe), [YO(Ng)6]+ (Ng = Ar or Kr) or [YO(Xe)5]+ complexes. Experiments with dilute krypton or xenon in argon or krypton in xenon produced new IR bands, which are due to the stepwise formation of the [ScO(Ar)(5-n)(Kr)n]+, [ScO(Kr)(5-n)(Xe)n]+ (n = 1-5), [YO(Ar)(6-n)(Kr)n]+ (n = 1-6), and [YO(Ar)(6-n)(Xe)n]+ (n = 1-4) complexes.     

CH stretching vibration of N-methylformamide as a sensitive probe of its complexation: infrared matrix isolation and computational study

The complexes between trans-N-methylformamide (t-NMF) and Ar, N(2), CO, H(2)O have been studied by infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy and/or ab initio calculations. The infrared spectra of NMF/Ne, NMF/Ar and NMF/N(2)(CO,H(2)O)/Ar matrices have been measured and the effect of the complexation on the perturbation of t-NMF frequencies was analyzed. The geometries of the complexes formed between t-NMF and Ar, N(2), CO and H(2)O were optimized in two steps at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. The four structures, found for every system at this level, were reoptimized on the CP-corrected potential energy surface; both normal and CP corrected harmonic frequencies and intensities were calculated. For every optimized structure the interaction energy was partitioned according to the SAPT scheme and the topological distribution of the charge density (AIM theory) was performed. The analysis of the experimental and theoretical results indicates that the t-NMF-N(2) and CO complexes present in the matrices are stabilized by very weak N-H···N and N-H···C hydrogen bonds in which the N-H group of t-NMF serves as a proton donor. In turn, the t-NMF-H(2)O complex present in the matrix is stabilized by O-H···O(C) hydrogen bonding in which the carbonyl group of t-NMF acts as a proton acceptor. Both, the theoretical and experimental results indicate that involvement of the NH group of t-NMF in formation of very weak hydrogen bonds with the N(2) or CO molecules leads to a clearly noticeable red shift of the CH stretching wavenumber whereas engagement of the CO group as a proton acceptor triggers a blue shift of this wavenumber.