2018

Ahokas, Jussi; Kosendiak, Iwona; Krupa, Justyna; Wierzejewska, Maria; Lundell, Jan

The high overtone‐induced isomerization of glycolic acid in a low‐temperature argon matrix was investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum of glycolic acid is presented, and the spectral assignment is supported by vibrational anharmonic calculations. The high overtone excitation of the lowest energy conformer (SSC) at 532 nm induced direct conformational isomerization to higher energy conformers (GAC and AAT). Furthermore, upon excitation at 532 nm GAC and AAT isomerized back to SSC and photo‐induced equilibrium was observed between the conformers. Kinetic model was used to describe the observed isomerization and isomerization rate constants were obtained. No experimental evidence of isomerization between GAC and AAT nor other higher energy conformers were observed.