Matrix Reactions of Oxygen Atoms with CH3CN. Infrared Spectra of HOCH2CN and CH3CNO

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100339a015

Reactions of oxygen atoms and acetonitrile have been investigated in solid argon at 14-17 K.Primary photoproducts include hydroxyacetonitrile (HOCH2CN) and acetonitrile N-oxide (CH3CNO).Hydroxyacetonitrile forms hydrogen-bonded complexes with acetonitrile and acetonitrile N-oxide as the secondary products.Acetonitrile N-oxide is suggested to be formed by a simple bimolecular addition reaction of atomic oxygen with the nitrile nitrogen.The participation of O(¹D) atoms is considered to increase the yield of hydroxyacetonitrile as compared to acetonitrile N-oxide via H-atom abstraction or insertion reactions.The spectral characteristics of hydroxyacetonitrile, acetonitrile N-oxide, and hydrogen-bonded hydroxyacetonitrile-acetonitrile complex isolated in argon matrices are given.