Matrix Reaction of Methylene with Nitrogen to Form Diazomethane

Isotopic labeling experiments show that the photolysis of either diazomethane or diazirine isolated in solid nitrogen produces CH2 molecules which subsequently react with neighboring N2 molecules to form diazomethane. Small frequency shifts and splittings in the spectra of diazomethane so produced provide evidence for three different matrix sites for diazomethane isolated in nitrogen.