Evidence of a dihydrogen bond in gas phase: Phenol-borane-dimethylamine complex

We report here the formation of a gas phase complex bound by a dihydrogen b ond between phenol and borane-dimethylamine in supersonic jets. Laser induc ed fluorescence excitation, fluorescence detected infrared, and IR-UV hole- burning spectroscopies were carried out to characterize the complex. Quantu m chemical calculations were used to derive the structure of the complex, p roviding excellent agreement with the spectroscopic data. To the best of ou r knowledge, we for the first time established experimentally the formation of a dihydrogen bonded complex in the gas phase. (C) 2000 American Institu te of Physics. [S0021-9606)(00)02146-2].