Matrix Infrared Spectrum of OF and Detection of LiOF

Simultaneous deposition of OF2 or 18OF2 diluted in argon with a beam of Li, Na, K, or Mg atoms on a salt window at 15°K produces new infrared absorptions which are due to the appropriate metal fluorides. An intense absorption at 1028.6 cm−1 is independent of the metal used to generate the reaction, and this feature shows the appropriate oxygen-18 shift for assignment to the OF free radical. Additional bands show a metal dependence and are attributed to weakly bonded MF···OF dimers. Use of isotopic mixtures shows that bands at 714.0 and 417.5 cm−1 using 6Li are due to a new species containing single lithium and oxygen atoms which concentration studies suggest to be the molecule LiOF.