Acetylacetone in hydrogen solids: IR signatures of the enol and keto tautomers and UV induced tautomerization

Acetylacetone is isolated in hydrogen matrices and is investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy, combined with theoretical calculations. The two stable enol and keto tautomers are well characterized. The keto/enol ratio in solid parahydrogen is found to be higher than in classical matrices. While vibrational bands of the enol form are broad, with bandwidths depending on the vibrational mode, those of the keto form are narrow. A KrF laser excitation is used to induce the enol/keto tautomerization in solid parahydrogen. The kinetics of the interconversion is followed, highlighting a non-direct tautomerization process.