The Phase-dependent Photochemical Reaction Dynamics of Halooxides and Nitrosyl Halides¶

Femtosecond Pump−Probe Studies of Nitrosyl Chloride Photochemistry in Solution

We present a femtosecond pump-probe study of the primary events of nitrosyl chloride (ClNO) photochemistry in solution. Following 266 nm photolysis, the resulting evolution in optical density is measured for ClNO dissolved in acetonitrile, chloroform, and dichloromethane. The results demonstrate that photolysis results in the production of a photoproduct that has an absorption band maximum at 295 nm in acetonitrile and 330 nm in chloroform and dichloromethane. To determine the extent of Cl production, comparative photochemical studies of methyl hypochlorite (MeOCl) and ClNO are performed. Photolysis of MeOCl in solution results in the production of the Cl:solvent charge-transfer complex; therefore, a comparison of the spectral evolution observed following MeOCl and ClNO photolysis under identical photolysis conditions is performed to determine the extent of Cl production following ClNO photolysis. We find that similar to the gas-phase photochemistry, Cl and NO formation is the dominant photochemical channel in acetonitrile. However, the photochemistry in chloroform and dichloromethane is more complex, with a second product formed in addition to Cl and NO. It is proposed that in these solvents photoisomerization also occurs, resulting in the production of ClON. The results presented here represent the first detailed examination of the solution phase photochemistry of ClNO.

Time-resolved infrared absorption studies of the solvent-dependent vibrational relaxation dynamics of chlorine dioxide

We report a series of time-resolved infrared absorption studies on chlorine dioxide (OClO) dissolved in H2O, D2O, and acetonitrile. Following the photoexcitation at 401 nm, the evolution in optical density for frequencies corresponding to asymmetric stretch of OClO is measured with a time resolution of 120+/-50 fs. The experimentally determined optical-density evolution is compared with theoretical models of OClO vibrational relaxation derived from collisional models as well as classical molecular-dynamics (MD) studies. The vibrational relaxation rates in D2O are reduced by a factor of 3 relative to H2O consistent with the predictions of MD. This difference reflects modification of the frequency-dependent solvent-solute coupling accompanying isotopic substitution of the solvent. Also, the geminate-recombination quantum yield for the primary photofragments resulting in the reformation of ground-state OClO is reduced in D2O relative to H2O. It is proposed that this reduction reflects enhancement of the dissociation rate accompanying vibrational excitation along the asymmetric-stretch coordinate. In contrast to H2O and D2O, the vibrational-relaxation dynamics in acetonitrile are not well described by the theoretical models. Reproduction of the optical-density evolution in acetonitrile requires significant modification of the frequency-dependent solvent-solute coupling derived from MD. It is proposed that this modification reflects vibrational-energy transfer from the asymmetric stretch of OClO to the methyl rock of acetonitrile. In total, the results presented here provide a detailed description of the solvent-dependent geminate-recombination and vibrational-relaxation dynamics of OClO in solution.