DISCRETE UV ABSORPTION BY N-3( ) - (N2)N CLUSTERS

Abstract

Photoabsorptions by N+3(N2)n complexes have been observed near 282 nm by detecting both N+ and N+3 photofragments. The absorptions occur near the recently characterized A3Π←X3∑-g transition of the N+3 cation, implying that the larger complexes essentially consist of an N+3 core surrounded by electrostatically bound N2 ligands. Two mechanisms for the photodissociation are proposed, one involving coupling of the A state of the N+3 chromophore to a dissociative 3Π surface to produce N+ fragments, the other beginning with A→X internal conversion followed by a series of N2 ligand evaporations to leave only N+3. © 1994.