Oxides of long carbon chains: Results obtained on IR and UV-vis absorptions

The IR and UV-vis absorptions of oxides of long carbon chains trapped in cryogenic matrices were investigated experimentally and theoretically. Some of the IR-lines were assigned to the oxides of certain carbon chains using the method of isotopic substitution of matrix material (16O2/18O2, 12CO/13CO) and the technique of selective UV-vis photo-bleaching. Our data, along with quantum chemical calculations suggest that the wavelength positions of the major UV-vis and IR absorptions of the oxides CnO, OCnO, and of the parent carbon chains Cn are located in close vicinity.