ABSORPTION-SPECTRA AND PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF THE CHLOROFLUOROMETHANE AND BROMOFLUOROMETHANE CATIONS IN SOLID ARGON

Absorption spectra of CF4-nXn (X = Cl, Br; n = 1, 2, 3, 4) samples at high dilution in argon subjected to argon discharge photoionization during condensation at 25 K contained strong photosensitive bands in the 295-475-nm region. These absorptions are assigned to the parent cations since parent cation infrared absorptions in similar experiments exhibited the same photolysis behavior. The photolytic stability of these ions to short wavelength light, CF2Cl2+ > CF3Cl+ > CFCl3+ > CCl4+, parallels their relative gas phase stability. The absorption band energies in solid argon are compared to intervals in the photoelectron spectra of the ions in the gas phase. © 1979 American Chemical Society.