Matrix IR studies on hydrogen-bonded complexes of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide with ketene

Infrared spectra of matrices codeposited Ar/HX (X=Cl, Br) with Ar/H₂CCO mixtures have been examined. Isotopic substitutions (HX, DX, H₂CCO, D₂CCO) showed that ketene formed the 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complex with HX. The HX stretching modes were observed at 2684 cm⁻¹ in the H₂CCO–HCl complex and at 2384 cm⁻¹ in the H₂CCO–HBr complex. The ν₁ modes of the ketene submolecules were shifted to low frequency and the ν₉ modes to high frequency. It was proposed for the structure of the complex that the acid proton is bonded to the C=C pi electron system.