Reactions of H atoms produced by electron irradiation of benzene in solid xenon: IR spectrum of cylohexadienyl radical and possible involvement of HXeC6H5

Chemical reactions induced by fast electron irradiation of benzene in solid xenon were studied by EPR and FTIR spectroscopy. Irradiation at 16 K leads to H atoms and phenyl radicals. Annealing at 45 K results in formation of HXeH and cyclohexadienyl radical (C6H7). A strong IR absorption at 618/620 cm−1 and several weaker bands were assigned to cyclohexadienyl radical from comparison with EPR data and DFT calculations. A computationally stable molecule HXeC6H5 was not found experimentally, which means that it is either not formed or not stabilized under the experimental conditions used.