PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF DINITROGEN PENTAOXIDE IN LOW-TEMPERATURE MATRICES

A combination of matrix isolation and FTIR spectroscopy has been emplo yed to investigate the low-temperature photochemistry (4.2 K) of dinit rogen pentaoxide. UV photolysis of the matrix isolated precursor (MR = 1/1000) at lambda > 230 nm resulted in the photoreduction of N2O5 to N2O via N2O3 as an intermediate. Both, asym- and sym-N2O3 were formed in argon matrices, whereas in solid nitrogen only asym-N2O3 was produc ed. Little or no evidence for the formation of isomeric forms of N2O4 was found. Possible photochemical pathways are discussed.