Polyfluoride anions, a matrix-isolation and quantum-chemical investigation

Laser-ablation experiments with metals provide a source of electrons for capture processes, which are codeposited with solid argon and neon containing molecular fluorine. New argon and neon matrix absorptions at 510.6 and 524.7 cm(-1), respectively, are photosensitive upon irradiation at >290 nm, which is consistent with their assignment to an isolated anion. These bands are below the [M](+)[F(3)](-) antisymmetric trifluoride stretching frequency of 550 cm(-1) in an argon matrix, which is the typical relationship for cation-anion complexes and matrix-isolated anions. Thus, we report the isolated [F(3)](-) anion in solid argon and neon environments. Moreover, we have carried out quantum-chemical calculations up to and including the CCSD(T) method to investigate the stabilities of polyfluoride anions higher than the [F(3)](-) anion.