Visible Light-Driven Chemistry of Oxalic Acid in Solid Argon, Probed by Raman Spectroscopy

Conformational isomerizations triggered by vibrational excitation of second stretching overtones

Vibrational excitation using frequency-tunable IR laser light has been developed as a powerful tool for selective manipulation of molecular conformations. In this methodology, vibrational excitation has been typically applied to the first stretching overtones (∼80 kJ mol^-1) but also to the fundamental modes (∼40 kJ mol^-1). Here, we demonstrate that selective conformational isomerizations are also achieved using excitation to second stretching overtones (∼120 kJ mol^-1). The extremely weak absorptions of the second stretching overtones of molecules isolated in low-temperature matrices were measured for the first time; here using three prototype molecules: hydroxyacetone (HA), glycolic acid (GAc) and glycolamide (GAm). Benchmarking of computed anharmonic IR spectra showed that the B3LYP/SNSD method provides the best agreement with experimental frequencies of the ν(OH), 2ν(OH) and 3ν(OH) modes for the studied molecules in argon matrices. Selective irradiation at the 3ν(OH) frequencies (9850-10 500 cm^-1) of HA, GAc and GAm monomers in argon matrices at 15 K successfully triggers their conformational isomerization. These results open the door to extend control over conformations separated by higher barriers and to induce other transformations not energetically accessible by excitation to the fundamental or first stretching overtone modes.

Contrasting Effects of Water on the Barriers to Decarboxylation of Two Oxalic Acid Monohydrates: A Combined Rotational Spectroscopic and Ab Initio Study

Using rotational spectroscopy, we have observed two isomers of the monohydrate of oxalic acid, the most abundant dicarboxylic acid in the atmosphere. In the lowest-energy isomer, water hydrogen-bonds to both carboxylic acid groups, and the barrier to decarboxylation decreases. In the second isomer, water bonds to only one carboxylic acid group, and the barrier increases. Though the lower barrier in the former is not unequivocal evidence that water acts as a photocatalyst, the higher barrier in the latter indicates that water acts as an inhibitor in this topology. Oxalic acid is unique among dicarboxylic acids: for the higher homologues calculated, the inhibiting topology of the monohydrate is lowest in energy and most abundant under atmospheric conditions. Consequently, oxalic acid is the only dicarboxylic acid for which single-water catalysis of overtone-induced decarboxylation in the atmosphere is plausible.

Double deuterated acetylacetone in neon matrices: infrared spectroscopy, photoreactivity and the tunneling process

Open enol conformers of double deuterated acetylacetone are produced by UV and IR irradiation, allowing the analysis of the tunnelling effect between them.