The infrared predissociation spectra of Cl−·H2O·Ar (n=1–5): experimental determination of the influence of Ar solvent atoms

We establish the argon solvent size dependence of the Cl−·H2O·Arn predissociation spectra, and discuss the discrepancies between previously reported predissociation spectra of the Cl−·H2O and Cl−·H2O·Ar3 complexes [Choi et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 102 (1998) 503; Ayotte et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120 (1998) 12361]. The argon-induced shift in the ∼3130 cm−1 ionic H-bonded OH stretching band, calculated to be large (>30 cm−1/Ar red-shift) by Satoh and Iwata [Chem. Phys. Lett. 312 (1999) 522], is found to be quite small (IHB band center=3128±3 cm−1 for 1⩽n⩽5). We compare this result with similar behavior displayed by the bare versus argon-solvated bromide monohydrate.