We have measured the infrared absorption spectrum of C(6)H(5), /X (2)A(1), in an Ar matrix at 10 K. The experimental frequencies (cm(-)(1)) and polarizations follow. a(1) modes: 3086, 3072, 3037, 1581, 1441, 1154, 1027, 997, 976, 605; b(1) modes: 972, 874, 706, 657, 416; b(2) modes: 3071, 3060, 1624, 1432, 1321, 1283, 1159, 1063, and 587. Three different methods have been used for the production of the phenyl radicals. Infrared absorption spectra of five deuterated isotopomers, C(6)D(5), p-C(6)H(4)D, p-C(6)HD(4), o-C(6)H(4)D, and m-C(6)H(4)D, were recorded to compare experimental frequency shifts with calculated (UB3LYP/cc-pVDZ) harmonic frequency shifts. The use of CO(2) or NO as internal standards enabled the experimental determination of absolute infrared intensities. The linear dichroism was measured with photooriented samples to establish experimental polarizations of each vibrational band. True gas-phase vibrational frequencies were estimated by considering the gas-to-matrix shifts and matrix inhomogeneous line broadening. The phenyl radical matrix frequencies listed above are within +/-1% of the gas-phase vibrational frequencies. The C(6)H(5) frequencies from this paper supersede our earlier values reported in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 7400-7401. See also: http://ellison.colorado.edu/phenyl.

The complete set of vibrational frequencies and absolute infrared intensities has been determined for o-benzyne and two of its isotopomers: C6D4 and 1,2J3C2C4H4. In addition, for the majority of the transitions symmetries were assigned from infrared linear dichroism of the matrix-isolated samples, photooriented with polarized light during several photochemical transformations. Thermal relaxation of the high static pressure created by the initial photofragmentation causes dramatic changes of the fine site structure of each band of o-benzyne and results in a singlesite infrared absorption spectra. A high-rmlution, single-site vibrational spectrum was also obtained independently from laser hole-burning experiments. Band-shape analysis in different inert gas matrices (Ne, Ar, Xe, N2, and CO) greatly facilitates the correlation of isotopomer bands with those of unlabeled o-benzyne. The triple bond stretching vibration appears at 1846 cm-' in a Ne matrix, with an experimental absolute intensity of 2.0 f 0.4 km/mol in the unlabeled o-benzyne and is polarized along the symmetry axis. It is red-shifted by 2 cm-I in the perdeutero-ebenzyne and by 53 cm-l in the doubly IT-labeled compound, in very good agreement with our theoretical prediction (MP2/6-3 1G**) and previous gas-phase data for o-benzyne.

Phenoxyl radical (C(6)H(5)O) was prepared photochemically in low-temperature argon matrices. The infrared absorption spectra were obtained for C(6)H(5)O and for the isotopically labeled species C(6)D(5)O and 1-(13)C(12)C(5)H(5)O. All but one IR-active fundamental vibrations were detected, most of them not previously observed. Combination of results from IR linear dichroism measurements on photooriented samples, determination of absolute IR intensities with the help of internal standards, analysis of isotopic shifts, and quantum chemical predictions (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) led to a detailed assignment of phenoxyl radical vibrations. Significant frequency shifts are observed with respect to previously reported data based on resonance Raman studies in polar solutions. For some vibrations, these shifts reflect environment-induced structural changes, such as increase of the quinoid character of the phenoxyl radical in polar media. In particular, the frequency of the CO stretching vibration, readily observable in both IR and Raman experiments, is extremely sensitive to the environment and can thus be used to probe its polarity.

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Kinetic measurements for the degradation of 4-hydroxyphenylpentazole (2a) and its salt 2b-NBu4 in CD3OD and in CD2Cl2 provided a set of activation parameters. The resulting free energies of activation in methanol (DeltaG298 = 19.7 kcal/mol for 2a and DeltaG298 = 20.6 kcal/mol for 2b-NBu4) were compared with previous results for the 4-chloro derivative, 2c, and collectively correlated with results of gas-phase calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. This, and another linear correlation of the seven computed DeltaG298 values with the previously reported kinetic data of Ugi and Huisgen, gave the basis for the estimation of the stability of pentazole anion (1) and its derivatives in solutions. Thus, N5(-) is predicted to have t(1/2) = 2.2 d, while the half-lifetime for HN5 is expected to be only about 10 min in methanol at 0 degrees C. Controlled ozonolysis of 2b-NBu4 followed by 1H and 15N NMR spectroscopy shows a preferential destruction of the N5 ring, which excludes it from possible methods for preparation of the parent pentazole.

The phenyl radical (C 6 H 5 ) is an important species in organic chemistry and combustion processes. [1][2][3] Despite numerous attempts, spectroscopic characterization of C 6 H 5 is far from complete, due to its high reactivity. The energy of this radical has recently been 4 reported [∆ f H 0 (C 6 H 5 ) ) 84.3 ( 0.6 kcal mol -1 ] and is derived from the bond energy of benzene [D 0 (C 6 H 5 -H) ) 112.0 ( 0.6 kcal mol -1 ]. In this paper we report the infrared absorption spectrum of the phenyl radical in an argon matrix at 12 K and propose assignments for the frequencies and intensities

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The phenoxyl radical and two of its isotopomers were investigated by UV-VIS and IR polarization spectroscopy of molecular samples immobilized in cryogenic argon matrices. Analysis of the combined electronic and infrared linear dichroism data led to determination of absolute transition moment directions and symmetry assignments for four low-lying excited electronic states. The bands observed at 16 000, 25 200, 33 900, and 41 800 cm−1 were assigned to A12, B12, A12, and B12 π–π* states, respectively. A very weak transition observed in the near-infrared close to 8900 cm−1 was assigned to an optically forbidden B22 n–π* state. The electronic transitions predicted by time dependent density functional theory (TD-UB3LYP/cc-pVTZ) were in good agreement with the observed transitions.