Knowledge Bank

Raman spectra of $Cl2O$, ClClO and ClO have been observed in argon matrices at $16\circ K$ using argon plasma excitation. The symmetric, antisymmetric stretching, and bending modes of $Cl2O$ produced signals at 638, 678, and $297cm-1$, respectively. The ClClO isomeric species and the ClO radical were formed by the in situ laser photolysis of $Cl2O$. ClClO has frequencies at 963 (Cl - O stretch), 374 (Cl - Cl stretch), and $241cm-1$ (ClClO bend). The Raman spectra of $Cl2O$ and ClClO are in good agreement with their argon matrix infrared counterparts. A Raman band at $850cm-1$ is attributed to the fundamental frequency of ClO. This assignment, which is in good agreement with hot band spacings in a very recent vacuum ultraviolet spectrum (845 + 4 $cm-1$), suggests a reassignment of the $850cm-1$ infrared band observed following M + $Cl2O$ matrix reactions to ClO monomer and the $995cm-1$ band to ClO dimer.