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Title: Van der Waals complexes between Lewis bases and molecular hydrogen in argon matrices

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100367a030· OSTI ID:6947492

The presence of Lewis bases causes the zero-phonon Q band of matrix-isolated dihydrogen to become more intense and to shift to lower frequency than is observed in hydrogen-doped argon matrices. Because the intensity of the absorption due to the perturbed H-H stretch is not strongly a function of the H{sub 2} concentration in the matrix, it is reasonable to presume that the intensity arises from a H{sub 2}...base pair. Bases that have been shown to affect the spectrum of H{sub 2} in this manner include water, acetone, ammonia, pyridine, trimethylamine, and trimethylphosphine. The magnitude of the frequency shifts suggests that these associations should be considered van der Waals molecules. As is the case for solid hydrogen, the observation of the H-H stretch by infrared methods depends on the rotation of the hydrogen in the van der Waals complex, although Raman measurements suggest that nonrotating hydrogen also forms a complex. Thus, the H-H and D-D stretch, but not the H-D stretch, of complexed hydrogen can be easily observed in the infrared spectrum. The H-D stretch becomes observable, however, at higher H-D concentrations in the presence of adventitious H{sub 2}.

OSTI ID:
6947492
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA), Vol. 94:4; ISSN 0022-3654
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English