FTIR Spectra of Photolytic Reactions of HCN with F₂in Solid Argon

Hydrogen cyanide was condensed with fluorine in excess argon at 12 K, and no reaction was observed. Photolysis produced the hydrogen abstraction product complex FC=N--HF as well as the addition product HFC=NF. The HF submolecule stretching frequency was observed at 3662 cm^-1while the HF librational mode appeared at 553 cm^-1for the complex. Three infrared absorptions were observed for the difluoro addition product HFC=NF. Sample annealing facilitated F atom addition to HCN and produced HFC—N, which was characterized by four infrared absorptions with deuterium shifts. The carbon-nitrogen bonds for both HFC=N and HFC=NF are found to possess double-bond character.