Photoinduced reactions of chloroacetone in solid Ar: Identification of CH2COClCH3

- Photoinduced reactions of chloroacetone were investigated in solid Ar.
- UV irradiation caused the rotamerization from gauche- to syn-chloroacetone.
- Isomerization to hypochlorous acid 1-methylethenyl ester was observed.
- Photolysis product, cyclopropanone⋯HCl complex, was measured.

The UV light-induced reactions of chloroacetone in a cryogenic Ar matrix were investigated using infrared spectroscopy. The photoinduced isomerisations of gauche-chloroacetone to syn-chloroacetone and hypochlorous acid 1-methylethenyl ester were confirmed by comparing the experimental and calculated spectra. In addition, the photolysis products were found to be CH2CO and a cyclopropanone⋯HCl complex. The cyclopropanone⋯HCl complex was further decomposed into CH2CH2, CO and HCl. The hypochlorous acid 1-methylethenyl ester was further isomerized to 2-chloro-2-methyloxirane.

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