Photoisomerization of Matrix-Isolated Bis(trifluoromethyl) Sulfoxide: Formation of the Sulfenic Ester CF3SOCF3

Photochemistry of HNSO2 in cryogenic matrices: spectroscopic identification of the intermediates and mechanism

Small molecules solely consisting of H, N, O, and S are highly relevant intermediates in atmospheric chemistry and biology. Even though several isomers of [HNO2S] have been computationally predicted, only the IR spectra for the two lowest-energy isomers HNSO2 and syn-syn HONSO have been previously reported. Herein, the photochemistry (193 nm laser) of HNSO2 in N2-, Ne-, and Ar-matrices (≤15 K) has been studied. Aside from syn-syn HONSO, several new isomers including anti-syn HONSO, gauche-syn HOSNO, syn HOS(O)N, anti HOS(O)N, syn HS(O)NO, anti HN(O)SO, gauche-syn HSONO, and an elusive caged-radical pair HOS˙˙NO have been identified. Additionally, the formation of fragments HONO, HO˙, ˙NO, and ˙NO2 has also been observed. The characterization of these species with matrix-isolation IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy is supported by 15N-labeling and quantum chemical computations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level. Furthermore, the photo-induced isomerization reactions, including the conformational conversion of syn-syn HONSO → anti-syn HONSO and reversible isomerization of HOSNO ↔ anti-syn HONSO, syn-syn HONSO ↔ HN(O)SO, HSONO ↔ HS(O)NO, and HOS˙˙NO ↔ HOSNO have also been observed, and the underlying mechanism is discussed.

The hypothiocyanite radical OSCN and its isomers

An elusive biologically relevant hypothiocyanite radical (OSCN) has been generated in the gas phase, and its reversible photoisomerization with two novel isomers OSNC and SOCN has been observed in cryogenic Ar and N₂ matrices at 2.8 K.

Infrared spectrum of carbon trisulfide in solid argon

Cocondensation of carbon disulfide with high-frequency discharged argon at 4 K produced carbon monosulfide and atomic sulfur, which reacted spontaneously upon annealing to form the carbon trisulfide molecule as identified from the multiplets observed in mixed (12)C, (13)C and (32)S, (34)S isotopic spectra. On the basis of isotopic substitution and theoretical frequency calculations, infrared absorptions at 1263.3 and 570.1 cm(-1) were assigned to predominantly CS stretching and bending vibrations of CS(3) in solid argon. The CS(3) molecule, which was calculated to have a singlet ground state with C(2v) symmetry, dissociated to form the weakly bound SCS-S complex upon visible light irradiation.

Infrared spectra of the sulfenic ester CH3SOCH3 and its photodissociation products in solid argon

UV light irradiation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in low temperature solid argon matrix produces sulfenic ester, CH 3SOCH 3, a high energy structural isomer of DMSO. The sulfenic ester molecule further dissociates to the CH 2O-CH 3SH complex under 266 nm laser irradiation. The CH 2S-CH 3OH complex is also formed upon UV light irradiation. The infrared spectra of the aforementioned species are assigned on the basis of isotopic substitutions ( (13)C and deuterium) as well as density functional frequency calculations.

HeI Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Study of Trichloromethanesulfenyl Acetate, CCl3SOC(O)CH3, and Trichloromethanesulfenyl Trifluoroacetate, CCl3SOC(O)CF3

Two novel species, trichloromethanesulfenyl acetate, CCl(3)SOC(O)CH(3), and trichloromethanesulfenyl trifluoroacetate, CCl(3)SOC(O)CF(3), have been generated in situ by the heterogeneous reactions between trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride, CCl(3)SCl, and corresponding silver salts, silver acetate (AgOC(O)CH(3)) and silver trifluoroacetate (AgOC(O)CF(3)), respectively. Photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations are performed to investigate these two molecules, together with their precursor, CCl(3)SCl. Both of these two compounds may exist in the gas phase as a mixture of gauche and trans conformations. As for the dihedral angles delta(RSOR') of the gauche conformers, 107.0 degrees and 108.5 degrees are derived by theoretical calculations (at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) level) for CCl(3)SOC(O)CH(3) and CCl(3)SOC(O)CF(3), respectively. The first vertical ionization energies of CCl(3)SOC(O)CH(3) and CCl(3)SOC(O)CF(3), which have been determined by photoelectron spectroscopy, are 9.67 and 10.34 eV, respectively. According to the experimental results and theoretical analysis, the first ionization energy of these two molecules both come from the ionization of the lone pair electron of S atom.

Bis(trifluoroaceto) Disulfide (CF3C(O)OSSOC(O)CF3): A HeI Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Study

Bis(trifluoroaceto) disulfide CF(3)C(O)OSSOC(O)CF(3) was prepared and studied by Raman, photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and theoretical calculations. This molecule exhibits gauche conformation with both C=O groups cis to the S-S bond; the structure of the OSSO moiety is characterized by dihedral angle delta(OSSO) = -95.1 degrees due to the sulfur-sulfur lone pair interactions. The contracted S-S bond (1.979 Angstroms) and relatively high rotational barrier (19.29 kcal mol(-1) at the B3LYP/6-31G level) of the delta(OSSO) indicate the partial resonance-induced double bond character in this molecule. After ionization, the ground cationic-radical form of CF(3)C(O)OSSOC(O)CF(3)(*+) adopts a trans planar main-atom structure (delta(OSSO) = 180 degrees and delta(OCOS) = 0 degrees ) with C(2)(h) symmetry. The S-S bond elongates to 2.054 Angstroms, while the S-O bond shortens from 1.755 Angstroms in neutral form to 1.684 Angstroms in its corresponding cationic-radical form. The adiabatic ionization energy of 9.91 eV was obtained accordingly. The first two HOMOs correspond to the electrons mainly localized on the sulfur 3p lone pair MOs: 3ppi {36a (n(A)(S))](-1) and 3ppi [35b (n(B)(S), n(B)(O(C)(=)(O)))](-1), with an experimental energy separation of 0.16 eV. The first vertical ionization energy is determined to be 10.81 eV.