Conformational isomerization of formic acid by vibrational excitation at energies below the torsional barrier.
Photoinduced conformational isomerization of formic acid has been studied in a low-temperature argon matrix. It is found that conformational isomerization occurs when the photon energy is below the energy barrier for this process. The quantum yield for the process near the top of the barrier is comparable with the quantum yield above the barrier and drops at lower energies. The isomerization takes place via a tunneling mechanism.
Pettersson
Mika
M
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 55, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. petters@csc.fi
Maçôas
Ermelinda M S
EM
Khriachtchev
Leonid
L
Fausto
Rui
R
Räsänen
Markku
M
D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014732:Vibration
D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid