title: Infrared spectrum of the CH3OCH2 radical in solid argon.
abstract: The methoxymethyl radical, CH(3)OCH(2), is prepared via hydrogen photodissociation from dimethyl ether during codeposition of CH(3)OCH(3) in excess argon at 4 K with laser-excited metal plume radiation. The spectrum of this radical is characterized by four infrared absorptions at 1468.1, 1253.9, 1226.6, and 944.4 cm(-1), which are assigned by deuterium substitution as well as frequency and intensity calculations using density functional theory. The O-CH(2) bond length is calculated to be 0.07 Å shorter than the CH(3)-O bond due to additional π bonding interactions. In the matrix near-UV irradiation destroys the CH(3)OCH(2) radical with the formation of HCO radical and CH(4), which is different from the decomposition mechanism of CH(3)OCH(2) radical to H(2)CO and CH(3) radical proposed for the gas phase process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4319, United States.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D001128:Argon