THE SEARCH FOR H2BOH - A MATRIX-ISOLATION STUDY

Merged jet copyrolysis of samples of Ar/B2H6 with either Ar/H2O or Ar/O2 followed by trapping into an argon matrix has led to the formation and isolation of the known species boroxin, H3B3O3. These results differ from the gas phase microwave study of this system, where H2BOH was identified and characterized. Local density functional calculations of the vibrational spectrum of this compound were carried out to aid in the search for absorptions of H2BOH, and are reported. The difference between the microwave study and the present study persisted despite very similar reaction conditions. Possible origins of this discrepancy are discussed.