Competition between C–H‧‧‧S and S–H‧‧‧Cl H-bonds in CHCl3-H2S complex: A matrix isolation IR spectroscopic study

H-bonded complexes between CHCl3 and H2S have been studied in cold and inert argon matrix using IR spectroscopy. Both molecules were found to act as both H-bond donor and acceptor, resulting in two types of, namely C–H‧‧‧S and S–H‧‧‧Cl H-bonds. The H-bonded complex formation has been confirmed by monitoring the spectral changes in ν_(C-H) and ν_(S-H) fundamental vibrations. C–H‧‧‧S H-bonded dimer have been found to be more stable compared to S–H‧‧‧Cl H-bonded dimer. Besides the binary complex, CHCl3-(H2S)2 and (CHCl3)2-H2S complex has also been identified. The quantum chemical results were found to corroborate the experimental findings.