Infrared absorption spectra of carbon monoxide in rare gas matrices

Radiation-induced transformations of matrix-isolated ethanol molecules at cryogenic temperatures: an FTIR study

Ethanol (C2H5OH) is one of the most common alcohol molecules observed in various space media (molecular clouds, star formation regions, and, highly likely, interstellar ices), where it is exposed to light and ionizing radiation, leading to more complex organic molecules and eventually to the biologically important species. To better understand the radiation-induced evolution of ethanol molecules in icy media, we have examined the transformations of isolated C2H5OH and C2D5OH under the action of X-rays and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation in solid inert matrices (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) at 4.4 K using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results obtained with X-ray irradiation demonstrate the formation of a variety of radiolysis products corresponding to dehydrogenation (CH3CHOH˙, CH3CHO, CH2CHOH, CH3CO˙, H2CCO-H2, H2CCO, HCCO˙, CCO) and C-C bond rupture (H2CO, HCO˙, CO, CH4, and CH3˙). The absorptions of the CH3CHOH˙ radical related to the CCO stretching (the bands at 1249.1, 1247.0, 1246.2, and 1245.1 cm-1, in Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe, respectively) were first tentatively characterized on the basis of comparison with available computational data. In addition, the C2H2⋯H2O complex, which corresponds to dehydrogenation, was found followed by C-O bond cleavage. The results were confirmed by experiments with isotopic substitution. It was found that dehydrogenation strongly predominated in a xenon matrix, while skeleton bond rupture is more feasible in neon and argon. The matrix effect was attributed to a significant role of "hot" reaction channels in neon and argon, which are efficiently quenched due to relaxation in more polarizable xenon. The VUV photolysis (185 nm) in Ar and Xe matrices yields a similar set of products, except for CH3CHOH˙ and CH2CHOH, which were not found (the nonobservation of the former species may be explained by its efficient secondary photolysis). The plausible mechanisms of product formation and astrochemical implications of the results are discussed.

Investigation of Molecular Mechanism of Cobalt Porphyrin Catalyzed CO2 Electrochemical Reduction in Ionic Liquid by In-Situ SERS

This study explores the electrochemical reduction in CO₂ using room temperature ionic liquids as solvents or electrolytes, which can minimize the environmental impact of CO₂ emissions. To design effective CO₂ electrochemical systems, it is crucial to identify intermediate surface species and reaction products in situ. The study investigates the electrochemical reduction in CO₂ using a cobalt porphyrin molecular immobilized electrode in 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF4) room temperature ionic liquids, through in-situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and electrochemical technique. The results show that the highest faradaic efficiency of CO produced from the electrochemical reduction in CO₂ can reach 98%. With the potential getting more negative, the faradaic efficiency of CO decreases while H₂ is produced as a competitive product. Besides, water protonates porphyrin macrocycle, producing pholorin as the key intermediate for the hydrogen evolution reaction, leading to the out-of-plane mode of the porphyrin molecule. Absorption of CO₂ by the ionic liquids leads to the formation of BMI·CO₂ adduct in BMI·BF₄ solution, causing vibration modes at 1100, 1457, and 1509 cm^-1. However, the key intermediate of CO2-· radical is not observed. The υ(CO) stretching mode of absorbed CO is affected by the electrochemical Stark effect, typical of CO chemisorbed on a top site.

C-O Bond Activation in Mononuclear Lanthanide Oxocarbonyl Complexes OLn(η2-CO) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd)

Fundamental investigation of metal-CO interactions is of great importance for the development of high-performance catalysts to CO activation. Herein, a series of side-on bonded mononuclear lanthanide (Ln) oxocarbonyl complexes OLn(η²-CO) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) have been prepared and identified in solid argon matrices. The complexes exhibit uncommonly low C-O stretching bands near 1630 cm^-1, indicating remarkable C-O bond activation in these Ln analogues. The η²-CO ligand in OLn(η²-CO) can be claimed as an anion on the basis of the experimental observations and quantum chemistry investigations, although the CO anion is commonly considered to be unstable with electron auto-detachment. The CO activation in OLn(η²-CO) is attributed to the photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer from LnO to CO rather than the generally accepted metal → CO π back-donation, which conforms to the traditional Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson motif. Energy decomposition analysis combined with natural orbitals for chemical valence calculations demonstrates that the bonding between LnO and η²-CO arises from the combination of dominant ionic forces (>76%) and normal Lewis "acid-base" interactions. The fundamental findings provide guidelines for the catalyst design of CO activation.

Infrared Spectra and Phototransformations of meta-Fluorophenol Isolated in Argon and Nitrogen Matrices

Monomers of meta-fluorophenol (mFP) were trapped from the gas phase into cryogenic argon and nitrogen matrices. The estimated relative energies of the two conformers are very close, and in the gas phase they have nearly equal populations. Due to the similarity of their structures (they only differ in the orientation of the OH group), the two conformers have also similar predicted vibrational signatures, which makes the vibrational characterization of the individual rotamers challenging. In the present work, it has been established that in an argon matrix only the most stable trans conformer of mFP exists (the OH group pointing away from the fluorine atom). On the other hand, the IR spectrum of mFP in a nitrogen matrix testifies to the simultaneous presence in this matrix of both the trans conformer and of the higher-energy cis conformer (the OH group pointing toward the fluorine atom), which is stabilized by interaction with the matrix gas host. We found that the exposition of the cryogenic N₂ matrix to the Globar source of the infrared spectrometer affects the conformational populations. By collecting experimental spectra, either in the full mid-infrared range or only in the range below 2200 cm^-1, we were able to reliably distinguish two sets of experimental bands originating from individual conformers. A comparison of the two sets of experimental bands with computed infrared spectra of the conformers allowed, for the first time, the unequivocal vibrational identification of each of them. The joint implementation of computational vibrational spectroscopy and matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy proved to be a very accurate method of structural analysis. Some mechanistic insights into conformational isomerism (the quantum tunneling of hydrogen atom and vibrationally-induced conformational transformations) have been addressed. Finally, we also subjected matrix-isolated mFP to irradiations with UV light, and the phototransformations observed in these experiments are also described.

Spectroscopy and radiation-induced chemistry of an atmospherically relevant CH2F2…H2O complex: Evidence for the formation of CF2…H2O complex as revealed by FTIR matrix isolation and ab initio study

Difluoromethane is considered among the environment friendly alternatives to the ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons. Due to its chemical inertness and lack of UV absorption above 200 nm, this compound can easily come to the upper layers forming complexes with widely abundant atmospheric components, such as water. The radiation-induced degradation of this compound and its complexes may be significant for reliable prediction of its long-term evolution in the environment as well as for development of new ways for its removal. In this work we have studied the vibrational spectroscopic properties and mechanisms of the radiation-induced decay of the CH₂F₂⋯H₂O under the action of X-rays using matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The IR spectrum of the complex in an argon matrix was characterized for the first time and assigned to a hydrogen-bonded structure with a binding energy of 11.1 kJ/mol (2.65 kcal/mol) (CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory). Complexation with water leads to a certain suppression of the efficiency of the radiation-induced decomposition of difluoromethane. The obtained results provide evidence for the radiation-induced formation of previously unreported CF₂⋯H₂O complex (in addition to other oxygen containing molecules, such as COF₂ and CO). As demonstrated by calculations, the new difluorocarbene complex reveals a hydrogen bond and it is characterized by a binding energy of 5.73 kJ/mol (1.37 kcal/mol) (CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory).

Insights into the Metal-CO Bond in O2M(η1-CO) (M = Cr, Mo, W, Nd, and U) Complexes

Investigations on the structures and bonding properties of metal carbonyl compounds provide fundamental understandings on the origin of small-molecule activations. Herein, the geometry and bonding trends of a series of isovalent metal oxocarbonyl complexes O₂M(η¹-CO) (M = Cr, Mo, W, Nd, and U) were studied by combined matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy and advanced quantum chemical calculations. The title complexes present red shift of C-O stretching bands in the range from 122 to 244 cm^-1, indicating the difference of CO activation ability for the series of isovalent metal dioxides. Density functional theory calculations predict T-shaped structures with a C_2v symmetry for all the title molecules. O₂Nd(η¹-CO) bears little resemblance to the other complexes in bonding characters because of the weak interactions between the NdO₂ and CO moiety. For the other complexes, natural localized molecular orbital analysis reveals a gradual increase of covalent character in M-CO bonds along the metal series Cr → Mo → W→ U. Energy decomposition analysis with natural orbitals for chemical valence calculations demonstrates that the M-CO bonding patterns conform to the conventional Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson motif. The contributions from orbital interactions in total attractions increase from Cr (41.7%) to U (52.7%). The breakdown of the orbital term into pairwise interactions shows that contributions of the M ← CO σ donation decrease from Cr (59.2%) to U (28.4%), while the M → CO π* backdonation increases significantly from Cr (23.8%) to U (67.3%). The more effective overlap and the better energy matching of U 5f and U 6d valence orbitals with CO π* orbitals result in much stronger U → CO π backdonation than the other metal elements.

Radiation-induced transformations of acetaldehyde molecules at cryogenic temperatures: a matrix isolation study

Acetaldehyde is one of the key small organic molecules involved in astrochemical and atmospheric processes occurring under the action of ionizing and UV radiation. While the UV photochemistry of acetaldehyde is well studied, little is known about the mechanism of processes induced by high-energy radiation. This paper reports the first systematic study on the chemical transformations of CH₃CHO molecules resulting from X-ray irradiation under the conditions of matrix isolation in different solid noble gases (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) at 5 K. CO, CH₄, H₂CCO, H₂CCO-H₂, C₂H₂⋯H₂O, CH₂CHOH, CH₃CO˙, CH₃˙, HCCO˙, and CCO were identified as the main radiolysis products. The dominant pathway of acetaldehyde degradation involves C-C bond cleavage leading to the formation of carbon monoxide and methane. The second important channel is dehydrogenation resulting in the formation of ketene, a potentially highly reactive species. It was found that the matrix significantly affected both the decomposition efficiency and distribution of the reaction channels. Based on these observations, it was suggested that the formation of the methyl radical as well as vinyl alcohol and the C₂H₂⋯H₂O complex presumably included a significant contribution of ionic pathways. The decomposition of acetyl radicals under photolysis with visible light leading to the CH₃˙-CO radical-molecule pair was observed in all matrices, while the recovery of CH₃CO˙ in the dark at 5 K was found only in Xe. This finding represents a prominent example of matrix-dependent chemical dynamics (probably, involving tunnelling), which deserves further theoretical studies. Probable mechanisms of acetaldehyde radiolysis and their implications for astrochemistry, atmospheric chemistry and low-temperature chemistry are discussed.

Intermediates of Carbon Monoxide Oxidation on Praseodymium Monoxide Molecules: Insights from Matrix-Isolation IR Spectroscopy and Quantum-Chemical Calculations

Identifying reaction intermediates in gas-phase investigations will provide understanding for the related catalysts in fundamental aspects including bonding interactions of the reaction species, oxidation states (OSs) of the anchored atoms, and reaction mechanisms. Herein, carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation by praseodymium monoxide (PrO) molecules has been investigated as a model reaction in solid argon using matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. Two reaction intermediates, OPr(η¹-CO) and OPr(η²-CO), have been trapped and characterized in argon matrixes. The intermediate OPr(η²-CO) shows an extremely low C-O stretching band at 1624.5 cm^-1. Quantum-chemistry studies indicate that the bonding in OPr(η¹-CO) is described as "donor-acceptor" interactions conforming to the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson motif. However, the bonding in OPr(η²-CO) results evidently from a combination of dominant ionic forces and normal Lewis "acid-base" interactions. The electron density of the singly occupied bonding orbital is strongly polarized to the CO fragment in OPr(η²-CO). Electronic structure analysis suggests that the two captured species exhibit Pr(III) OSs. Besides, the pathways of CO oxidation have been discussed.

Reactions of radiation-induced electrons with carbon dioxide in inert cryogenic films: matrix tuning of the excess electron interactions in solids

A single-electron reduction of carbon dioxide is supposed to be an important basic step in various processes, ranging from interstellar chemistry to photocatalytic transformations. In this work, we report an FTIR spectroscopic study on the reactions of carbon dioxide (¹²CO₂ and ¹³CO₂) with the radiation-induced excess electrons in deposited cryogenic matrices with different physical characteristics (Ne, N₂, Ar, Xe) occurring at 6 K. The reaction was monitored by the observation of carbon dioxide radical anions. It was found that attachment of excess electrons to CO₂ occurred in neon and nitrogen matrices, but not in argon and xenon. In the case of nitrogen, the formation of matrix-related cationic species (N₄⁺˙ and NNCO⁺˙) was also observed. Since the CO₂ molecules have a negative intrinsic electron affinity, it was suggested that the electron attachment to CO₂ is controlled by the energy of excess electrons in the solid matrix, which is determined by the value of the corresponding conduction band bottom energy (V₀). The implications of the obtained results are discussed.

Structure, conformational properties and matrix photochemistry of S-(tert-butyl)trifluorothioacetate CF3C(O)SC(CH3)3

CF₃C(O)SC(CH₃)₃ species adopts a synperiplanar conformation with C_s symmetry. After UV-visible broadband light irradiation in matrix conditions CF₃C(O)SC(CH₃)₃ photoevolves to CF₃SC(CH₃)₃ and CO.

An accurate full-dimensional permutationally invariant potential energy surface for the interaction between H2O and CO

The first full-dimensional accurate potential energy surface was developed for the CO + H₂O system based onca.102 000 points calculated at the CCSD(T)-F12a/AVTZ level using a permutation invariant polynomial-neural network (PIP-NN) method.

The surprisingly high ligation energy of CO to ruthenium porphyrins

A combined theoretical and experimental approach has been used to investigate the binding energy of a ruthenium metalloporphyrin ligated with CO, ruthenium tetraphenylporphyrin [RuII TPP], in the RuII oxidation degree. Measurements performed with VUV ionization using the DESIRS beamline at Synchrotron SOLEIL led to adiabatic ionization energies of [RuII TPP] and its complex with CO, [RuII TPP-CO], of 6.48 ± 0.03 eV and 6.60 ± 0.03 eV, respectively, while the ion dissociation threshold of [RuII TPP-CO]+ is measured to be 8.36 ± 0.03 eV using the ground-state neutral complex. These experimental data are used to derive the binding energies of the CO ligand in neutral and cationic complexes (1.88 ± 0.06 eV and 1.76 ± 0.06 eV, respectively) using a Born-Haber cycle. Density functional theory calculations, in very satisfactory agreement with the experimental results, help to get insights into the metal-ligand bond. Notably, the high ligation energies can be rationalized in terms of the ruthenium orbital structure, which is singular compared to that of the iron atom. Thus, beyond indications of a strengthening of the Ru-CO bond due to the decrease in the CO vibrational frequency in the complex as compared to the Fe-CO bond, high-level calculations are essential to accurately describe the metal ligand (CO) bond and show that the Ru-CO bond energy is strongly affected by the splitting of triplet and singlet spin states in uncomplexed [Ru TPP].

Characterization of the HCNCO complex and its radiation-induced transformation to HNCCO in cold media: an experimental and theoretical investigation

The HCNCO complex and its X-ray induced transformation to HNCCO in solid noble gas (Ng) matrices (Ng = Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) was first characterized by matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy at 5 K. The HCNCO complex was obtained by deposition of HCN/CO/Ng gaseous mixtures. The assignment was based on extensive quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory. The calculations predicted two computationally stable structures for HCNCO and three stable structures for HNCCO. However, only the most energetically favorable linear structures corresponding to the co-ordination between the H atom of HCN (HNC) and the C atom of CO have been found experimentally. The HCNCO complex demonstrates a considerable red shift of the H-C stretching vibrations (-24 to -38 cm^-1, depending on the matrix) and a blue shift of the HCN bending vibrations (+29 to +32 cm^-1) with respect to that of the HCN monomer, while the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O stretching mode is blue-shifted by 15 to 20 cm^-1 as compared to the CO monomer. The HNCCO complex reveals a strong red shift of the H-N bending (-77 to -118 cm^-1) and a strong blue shift of the HNC bending mode (ca. +100 cm^-1) as compared to the HNC monomer, whereas the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O stretching is blue-shifted by 24 to 29 cm^-1 with respect to that of the CO monomer. The interaction energies were determined to be 1.01 and 1.87 kcal mol^-1 for HCNCO and HNCCO, respectively. It was found that the formation of complexes with CO had a remarkable effect on the radiation-induced transformations of HCN. While the dissociation of HCN to H and CN is suppressed in complexes, the isomerization of HCN to HNC is strongly catalyzed by the complexation with CO. The astrochemical implications of the results are discussed.

Photochemical Reaction of OCSe with ClF in Argon Matrix: A Light-Driven Formation of XC(O)SeY (X, Y = F or Cl) Species

The photochemistry of OCSe with ClF trapped together in argon matrices at cryogenic temperatures has been explored and the first interhalogen representatives of the elusive XC(O)SeY family, namely syn-ClC(O)SeF, anti-ClC(O)SeF, syn-FC(O)SeCl, and anti-FC(O)SeCl, as well as the hitherto triatomic species ClSeF complexed by a CO molecule, were obtained. Both ClC(O)SeF conformers appear to be produced independently by photolysis of the respective precursors; while formation of both FC(O)SeCl structures is ruled by the presence of an angular molecular complex OCSe···Cl-F formed prior to photolysis. This latter photochemical pathway seems to favor the formation of the less stable anti-FC(O)SeCl structure instead of the more stable syn- one. With the aid of quantum chemical calculations, using ab initio, DFT, TDDFT, and CASSCF methods, the mechanism for this photochemical reaction is rationalized both in terms of radical processes as well as a photoinduced electron transfer occurring into the OCSe···Cl-F complex. Also a singlet-triplet conical intersection between anti and syn rotamers of the FC(O)SeCl molecule is theoretically explored.

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic study of 4-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde and of its UV-induced photochemistry

The structure, infrared spectrum, barrier to internal rotation, and photochemistry of 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (4PCA) were studied by low-temperature (10K) matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations undertaken at both Moller-Plesset to second order (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) levels of approximation. The molecule has a planar structure (C_s point group), with MP2/6-311++G(d,p) predicted internal rotation barrier of 26.6kJmol^-1, which is slightly smaller than that of benzaldehyde (~30kJmol^-1), thus indicating a less important electron charge delocalization from the aromatic ring to the aldehyde moiety in 4PCA than in benzaldehyde. A complete assignment of the infrared spectrum of 4PCA isolated in an argon matrix has been done for the whole 4000-400cm^-1 spectral range, improving over previously reported data. Both the geometric parameters and vibrational frequencies of the aldehyde group reveal the relevance in this molecule of the electronic charge back-donation effect from the oxygen trans lone electron pair to the aldehyde CH anti-bonding orbital. Upon in situ UV irradiation of the matrix-isolated compound, prompt decarbonylation was observed, leading to formation of pyridine.

Radiation-induced transformations of methanol molecules in low-temperature solids: a matrix isolation study

Radiation-induced transformations of methanol in inert solids at 6 K reveal remarkable matrix effects, and mechanisms and astrochemical implications are discussed.

Cold condensation of dust in the ISM

The condensation of complex silicates with pyroxene and olivine composition under conditions prevailing in molecular clouds has been experimentally studied. For this purpose, molecular species comprising refractory elements were forced to accrete on cold substrates representing the cold surfaces of surviving dust grains in the interstellar medium. The efficient formation of amorphous and homogeneous magnesium iron silicates at temperatures of about 12 K has been monitored by IR spectroscopy. The gaseous precursors of such condensation processes in the interstellar medium are formed by erosion of dust grains in supernova shock waves. In the laboratory, we have evaporated glassy silicate dust analogs and embedded the released species in neon ice matrices that have been studied spectroscopically to identify the molecular precursors of the condensing solid silicates. A sound coincidence between the 10 microm band of the interstellar silicates and the 10 microm band of the low-temperature siliceous condensates can be noted.

Chlorodifluoroacetyl isothiocyanate, ClF2CC(O)NCS: preparation and structural and spectroscopic studies

Chlorodifluoroacetyl isothiocyanate, ClF2CC(O)NCS, was synthesized by the reaction of ClF2CC(O)Cl with an excess of AgNCS. The colorless product melts at -85 °C, and its vapor pressure follows the equation ln p = -4471.1 (1/T) + 11.35 (p [atm], T [K]) in the range -38 to 22 °C. The compound has been characterized by IR (gas phase, Ar matrix, and matrix photochemistry), by liquid Raman, by (19)F and (13)C NMR, gas UV-vis, and photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), by photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS), and by gas electron diffraction (GED). The conformational properties of ClF2CC(O)NCS have been analyzed by joint application of vibrational spectroscopy, GED and quantum chemical calculations. The existence of two conformers has been detected in the gas and liquid phases, in which the C-Cl bond adopts a gauche orientation with respect to the C═O group; the C═O group is in syn- or anti-position with respect to the N═C double bond of the NCS group. The computed ΔG° difference between these two gauche-syn and gauche-anti forms is ΔG° = 0.63 kcal mol(-1) in the B3LYP/6-31G(d) approximation. The most significant gas-phase structural parameters for gauche-syn ClF2CC(O)NCS are re(NC═S) 1.559(2) Å, re(N═CS) 1.213(2) Å, re(N-C) 1.399(7) Å, re(C═O) 1.199(2) Å, and ∠e(CNC) 134.7(13)°. Photolysis of ClF2CC(O)NCS using an ArF excimer laser (193 nm) mainly yields ClF2CNCS, CO, and ClC(O)CF2NCS. The valence electronic properties of the title compound were studied using PES and PIMS. The experimental first vertical ionization energy of 10.43 eV corresponds to the ejection primarily of the sulfur lone-pair electrons of the in-plane nonbonding orbital on the NCS group.

Matrix isolation of the elusive fluorocarbonylsulfenyl fluoride molecule FC(O)SF

The syn and anti conformers of the hitherto unknown fluorocarbonylsulphenyl fluoride FC(O)SF were formed through the photochemical reactions between OCS and F(2), isolated in solid Ar. The reactions were followed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the unknown products were proposed by comparison of the observed IR absorptions with their computed IR spectra. The reactions occur through a 1:1 molecular complex between OCS and F(2), forming the anti-FC(O)SF first, which subsequently transforms into the syn form, through a randomization process. At longer times of irradiation, FC(O)SF decomposes by extrusion of a CO molecule with the concomitant formation of SF(2) and the formation of a difluorophosgene molecule, O═CF(2). The migration of fluorine atoms in the matrixes is proposed to explain the formation of SF(4) and SF(6).

From strong van der Waals complexes to hydrogen bonding: From CO⋯H2O to CS⋯H2O and SiO⋯H2O complexes

Structures and interaction energies of complexes valence isoelectronic to the important CO⋯H(2)O complex, namely SiO⋯H(2)O and CS⋯H(2)O, have been studied for the first time using high-level ab initio methods. Although CO, SiO, and CS are valence isoelectronic, the structures of their complexes with water differ significantly, owing partially to their widely varied dipole moments. The predicted dissociation energies D(0) are 1.8 (CO⋯H(2)O), 2.7 (CS⋯H(2)O), and 4.9 (SiO⋯H(2)O) kcal∕mol. The implications of these results have been examined in light of the dipole moments of the separate moieties and current concepts of hydrogen bonding. It is hoped that the present results will spark additional interest in these complexes and in the general non-covalent paradigms they represent.

Trifluoroselenoacetic acid, CF(3)C(O)SeH: preparation and properties

The hitherto unknown trifluoroselenoacetic acid was prepared through the reaction of trifluoroacetic acid with Woollins' reagent. The compound was fully characterized by mass spectrometry, (1)H, (19)F, (77)Se, and (13)C NMR, UV-visible, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and the boiling point at 46 °C was estimated from the vapor pressure curve. An IR matrix isolation study revealed the presence of two different syn-anti and anti-syn conformers. The IR spectra of the two stereoisomers have been assigned, aided by DFT, and ab initio calculations. The UV photolysis of Ar matrix isolated CF(3)C(O)SeH yielded CO, OCSe, CF(3)SeH, and CHF(3). Apart from CF(3)SeH, these products were also obtained by vacuum flash-pyrolysis (310 °C) of gaseous CF(3)C(O)SeH. Instead of CF(3)SeH, CF(2)Se, and HF were detected among the pyrolysis products. The different decomposition pathways of CF(3)C(O)SeH are discussed.