			15min:

THE INFRARED SPECTRUM OF THE NH₄⁺ CATION TRAPPED IN SOLID NEON.

WARREN E. THOMPSON AND MARILYN E. JACOX, Optical Technology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8441.

Both of the infrared-active vibrational fundamentals of the NH₄⁺ cation trapped in solid neon have been observed near the corresponding gas-phase band centers. Experimental conditions favoring the stabilization of this species--the first protonated molecule to be prepared in a neon matrix environment--will be explored. The study was extended to the partially and fully deuterated ammonium cations, for which the first infrared spectroscopic data will be reported.