Photochemical insertion of Hg in the HCl bond and mercury-sensitized production of ClHCl− and KrHKr+ in low-temperature matrices

Using FTIR spectroscopy, we have studied the insertion reaction of Hg excited in its 3P1 state in the HCl molecule in low-temperature Ar, Kr and N2 matrices. A new molecule HHgCl (DHgCl) is produced. In the rare-gas matrices, we also observe the formation of ClHCl− (ClDCl−) and some lines which may be tentatively assigned to HgH in very perturbed sites, although they are lying far from the known absorption in the gas phase. In the Kr matrix, the absorption spectrum of Kr2H+ is observed. This ion is obtained by a mercury-sensitized reaction. In argon, Ar2H+ is not produced in noticeable amounts.