Direct visualization of the H-Xe bond in xenon hydrides: Xenon isotopic shift in the IR spectra

IR spectra of xenon hydrides (HXeCCH, HXeCC, and HXeH) obtained from different xenon isotopes ((129)Xe and (136)Xe) exhibit a small but detectable and reproducible isotopic shift in the absorptions assigned to H-Xe stretching (by 0.17-0.38 cm(-1)). To our knowledge, it is the first direct experimental evidence for the H-Xe bond in HXeY type compounds. The shift magnitude is in good agreement with quantum-chemical calculations. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3250426]