Photochemistry of Fluorinated Phenyl Nitrenes: Matrix Isolation of Fluorinated Azirines

2,6-Difluorophenylnitrene and pentafluorophenylnitrene were generated in solid argon at 10 K by irradiation of the corresponding phenyl azides and characterized by IR and UV spectroscopy. Selective irradiation with lambda = 444 nm results in the formation of the corresponding azirines, while ketene imines are not produced. On lambda = 366 nm irradiation the azirines rearrange back to the nitrenes. The assignment of the azirines is confirmed by ab-initio calculations.