Chloro-p-nitrophenyldiazirine (2) was deposited in an argon matrix. Photolysis (350 nm) releases chloro-p-nitrophenylcarbene (1) as a persistent species. The IR and UV-vis spectra of carbene 1 were obtained, and the IR spectrum was adequately simulated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The carbene has an intense IR vibration at 1206 cm(-1) involving the carbene carbon and aromatic ring carbon. This band was observed by TRIR spectroscopy upon laser flash photolysis (355 um) of 2 in heptane at ambient temperature. The presence of benzene did not influence the frequency of this vibration. The carbene lifetime as measured by TRIR spectroscopy (approximate to 400 ns) is consistent with previous LFP studies utilizing UV-vis detection. Upon LFP of 2 in CCl4 or CF2ClCFCl2 the photogenerated carbene abstracts chlorine atom from solvent to form a,a-dichloro-p-nitrobenzyl radical with a TRIR band at 1316 cm(-1). Upon LFP of 2 in acetonitrile; acetone, methyl acetate, pyridine, and tetrahydrofuran ylide species were produced. The ylides had similar TRIR spectra with bands at 1584, 1504, and 1312 cm(-1).