Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an element that is essential to the life of all organisms, and the atmospheric detection of phosphine suggests the existence of a volatile biogeochemical P cycle. Here, we investigate the ability of P to participate in the formation of OH···P hydrogen bonds. Three bimolecular alcohol-trimethylphosphine complexes have been detected. Initially, the complexes were detected using matrix isolation spectroscopy, which favors complex formation. Subsequently, the fundamental OH-stretching vibration was observed in room-temperature gas-phase spectra. On the basis of our measured OH-stretching frequency red shifts and quantum chemical calculations, we find that P is an acceptor atom similar in strength to O and S and that all three P, O, and S atoms are weaker acceptors than N. The quantum chemical calculations show that both H and P in the OH···P hydrogen bond have partial positive charges, as expected from their electronegativities. However, the electrostatic potentials show a negative potential area on the electron density surface around P that facilitates formation of hydrogen bonds.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters |
| Vol/bind | 5 |
| Udgave nummer | 23 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 4225-4231 |
| Antal sider | 7 |
| ISSN | 1948-7185 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2014 |