THE SULFUR-DIOXIDE DIMER - A MATRIX-ISOLATION INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

The infrared spectra of sulphur dioxide deposited in nitrogen and argo n matrices at approximately 20 K have been recorded. The spectra have been interpreted on the basis of the presence of a non-symmetric dimer , whose structure has been predicted by means of a series of ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The structure deduced from the infrar ed spectroscopic measurements and from the ab initio calculations is c onsistent with that reported recently in the gas phase.