PETER 0 . TCHIR and RICHARD D. SPRATLEY. Can. J . Chem. 53,2318Chem. 53, (1975. cis-HNSO has been photolyzed in argon matrices using a medium pressure mercury lamp. Examination of the infrared spectra has revealed the presence of four photolysis products. With the aid of isotopic substitution these species have been identfied as cis-HOSN, cis-HSNO, trans-HSNO, and SNO, all previously unknown. Assignments have been made for a11 four products and force fields calculated for cis-HOSN and trans-HSNO. The following reaction scheme has been postulated for the photolysis induced process: cis-HNSO -+ cis-HOSN -+ cis-HSNO + trans-HSNO -+ SNO. The extent of this reaction sequence has been found to depend on reaction time and photolysis energy.
IntroductionIn the ultraviolet spectrum of cis-HNSO only one diffuse absorption and one continuum were observed (1). From this observation it was deduced that photolysis of the molecule was occurring. Since it was possible that the hydrogen was being removed to give the NSO radical, this photolysis appeared to be an ideal system for a study utilizing the matrix isolation technique. In this technique a hydrogen atom can diffuse away through the matrix to leave behind the isolated, stabilized radical. On the other hand, if the product or products were unstable isomers of cis-HNSO, they might also be stabilized at the low temperature of the matrix.In this paper we describe the results of the mercury arc photolysis of cis-HNSO in argon matrices: in part I the infrared results are presented and four new molecular species are identified; in part I1 the reactions taking place in the matrix are considered.