Photoinduced rotamerization and dissociation of o-fluorobenzoyl chloride in solid Ar

UV light-induced reactions of o-fluorobenzoyl chloride (FBC) were investigated using infrared spectroscopy in a cryogenic Ar matrix. Photoinduced rotational isomerization from anti- to gauche-FBC was confirmed by comparison with calculated spectra. In addition, photolysis products were found to be ketene species (6-chloro-2-fluoro-2,4-cyclohexadien-1-ylidenemethanone), o-fluorobenzoyl radical, o-chlorofluorobenzene, m-chlorofluorobenzene and CO.