RADIATION-CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC-MOLECULES IN SOLID RARE-GAS MATRICES -1 - FORMATION OF HEPTANE RADICAL CATIONS IN XENON AT 15 K

A combination of ESR and IR spectroscopic techniques was proposed as a n approach to the studies of the radiation-induced chemical transforma tions of organic molecules in solid rare gas matrices and the structur e and properties of transient species. It was shown that irradiation o f heptane in a xenon matrix in the presence of an electron scavenger ( Freon-113) at 15 K resulted in trapping of heptane radical cations in a planar zigzag conformation. A comparison of the results obtained wit h the data of our earlier IR spectroscopic studies. provides support f or the assignment of the IR absorption band at 2770 cm(-1) to the vibr ations of heptane radical cation. The conditions for trapping of isola ted radical cations in a xenon matrix are discussed.