INFRARED TRIGGERED REACTION IN THE SF$_6^- \cdot$HCOOH COMPLEX
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Date
2008
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University
Abstract
Formic acid binds to the SF$_6^-$ anion in a single (OH-F) H bond, with the CH group weakly tethered to a neighboring F atom. Similar to the case of SF$_6^- \cdot$ H$_2$O complexes, the SF bond involved in the (OH-F) H bond is significantly stretched and weakened by the attachment of the HCOOH ligand. The complex undergoes a reaction upon infrared absorption of one quantum in the OH or CH stretching mode of the formic acid moiety, leading predominantly to the formation of SF$_4^-$, HF, and CO$_2$. The reaction can be inhibited by attachment of two Ar atoms. We present IR photodissociation spectroscopy results and theoretical data illustrating the reaction mechanism.
Description
Author Institution: JILA, NIST, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309