UV-Induced Hydrogen-Atom-Transfer Processes in 3-Thio-1,2,4-triazole Isolated in Ar and H₂ Low-Temperature Matrixes

The UV-induced thione → thiol phototautomeric reaction has been studied for monomeric 3-thio-1,2,4-triazole (3-ST) isolated in low-temperature Ar and n-H₂ (normal hydrogen) matrixes. Prior to any UV irradiation, monomers of 3-ST isolated in solid Ar or solid n-H₂ adopted mainly the most stable thione tautomeric form, as revealed by the IR spectra. Upon UV (λ > 275 nm) irradiation of 3-ST isolated in Ar matrixes, the IR bands due to this thione form decreased, while a set of initially weak bands increased in intensity. Growing bands indicated generation of a photoproduct, which was identified as the thiol tautomer with labile hydrogen atoms attached to sulfur and N(2) atoms. The UV-induced spectral changes allowed also identification of another minor thiol tautomer of 3-ST, which was present in the matrix prior to any irradiation and did not change its population upon exposure to UV light. The identification of the observed isomeric forms was supported by comparison of their separated experimental IR spectra with the spectra theoretically predicted for the various structures of 3-ST. The thione → thiol phototautomerization that was the main UV-induced process observed for 3-ST in Ar matrixes did not occur for monomers of the compound trapped in solid n-H₂.