Radiation-Induced Transformation of CHF3···CO to the CF3···CO Complex: Matrix Isolation and Ab Initio Study

The X-ray-induced transformations of CHF3/CO/Ar and CHF3/CO/Kr systems were investigated by FTIR matrix isolation spectroscopy at 6 K. It was found that addition of CO suppressed decomposition of fluoroform in an Ar matrix probably due to trapping of matrix holes by CO and CHF3…CO complexes. Considerable increase of the CF3/CF2 ratio with increasing CO content in the matrix was attributed to stabilization of CF3 radical in respect to further radiation-induced fragmentation due to its complexation with CO molecule. The CF3…CO complex generated from the CHF3…CO precursor complex was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) and MP2 levels of theory. To the best of our knowledge it is the first experimentally observed complex of CF3 radical. The computed interaction energy was found to be 0.35 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/L2a_3 level (0.36 kcal/mol at the MP2/L2a_3 level) taking into account ZPVE and BSSE corrections. Despite the very weak intermolecular bonding, the complex is characterized by distinct features in the regions of C-F symmetric and antisymmetric stretching (CHF3), and CO stretching (the latter one was observed only in a krypton matrix). The geometrical structure of the radical-molecule complex is close to that of its molecular precursor.