Intramolecular hydrogen atom tunneling in 2-chlorobenzoic acid studied by low-temperature matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy

Intramolecular hydrogen atom tunneling in 2-chlorobenzoic acid has been investigated by low-temperature matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy with the aid of density functional theory calculation. Infrared spectra of two relatively stable syn isomers, SC and ST, were observed in argon and xenon matrixes. When the matrix samples were annealed after deposition, the isomerization from ST to SC occurred around the benzene-carboxyl bond. Two less stable anti isomers, AT, which has an OH...Cl intramolecular hydrogen bond, and AC, which has no OH...Cl bond, were produced from SC and ST upon UV irradiation. When the matrix samples were kept in the dark after UV irradiation, AT and AC changed to ST and SC, respectively, by spontaneous isomerization around the C-O axis in the carboxyl group. The rate constants of isomerization, AT --> ST, in a Xe matrix were estimated from the absorbance changes at various matrix temperatures. The rate constants showed a drastic decrease in deuteration of the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group. The relationship between the rate constants and the matrix temperature did not follow the Arrhenius law. These findings lead to the conclusion that the isomerization of AT --> ST and AC --> SC in low-temperature rare-gas matrixes proceeds through intramolecular hydrogen atom tunneling.