Matrix infrared spectroscopic and theoretical studies on the reactions of early lanthanoid atoms with nitrous oxide in excess argon.

Reactions of laser-ablated early lanthanoid atoms (Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, except for radioactive Pm) with N 2O molecules in excess argon have been investigated using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy. Lanthanoid monoxide-dinitrogen complexes, OLn(N 2) (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm), are observed during sample deposition and identified on the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, and CCl 4-doping experiments, whereas no new product is observed for Eu. The OLnNN (+) (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm) cations appear during sample deposition and increase visibly upon broadband irradiation (lambda > 250 nm) at the expense of the neutral OLn(N 2) complexes. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on the new products, which support identification of the OLn(N 2) and OLnNN (+) complexes from the matrix infrared spectra.