Wavelength- selective photoisomerisation of nitric oxide and nitrite in a rhodium complex

Photoinduced linkage isomers (PLIs) of NO and NO2- are selectively generated by an appropriate choice of irradiation wavelength at low temperature within the same molecular complex [Rh(NO)(NO2)(2)((Bu2PH)-P-t)(2)]. The structures of the PLIs are characterised by photocrystallography and the corresponding vibrational changes by infrared spectroscopy. Using red light about 37% of the ON isonitrosyl PLI can be produced while irradiation with blue light produces about 80% of the (O,O) chelating NO2- isomer. Upon heating the NO2- PLI undergoes several structural transformations, which are characterised by infrared spectroscopy.