Synthesis and properties of the tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)borate anion, [b(CF3)4]-: structure determination of Cs[B(CF3)4] by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Salts of the tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)borate anion, M[B(CF3)4], M=Li, K, Cs, Ag, have been prepared by two different routes for the first time. The colorless compounds are thermally stable up to 425 C (Cs salt) and soluble in anhydrous HF, water, and most organic solvents. Single crystals of Cs[B(CF3)4] were grown from diethyl ether by diffusion of CH2Cl2 vapor into the solution. The molecular structure was obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: rhombohedral space group R3m (no. 160); a =7.883(1), c=13.847(4) A: V=748.2 A3; Z=3; T=150K; R1=0.0118, wR2=0.0290. The internal bond parameters of the [B(CF3)4] ion were compared to those of the C(CF3)4 molecule. Due to a disorder of the anions in the cesium salt, it is not possible to distinguish between T and Td symmetry by X-ray diffraction experiments alone. However, a comprehensive IR and Raman study demonstrated that in the potassium and cesium salt as well as in aqueous solution, the anion exhibits T symmetry with all CF3 groups rotated off the staggered position required for Td symmetry. The vibrational study is supported by DFT calculations, which provide, in addition to the equilibrium structure and vibrational wavenumbers, estimates of IR and Raman band intensities. The anion is resistant against strong oxidizing (e.g., F2) as well as reducing agents (e.g., Na) and is not affected by nucleophiles like C2H5O or electrophiles such as H3O+. It is very weakly coordinating, as demonstrated by the low-equilibrium CO pressure over the [Ag(CO)x][B(CF3)4] (x=1, 2) co-adducts and the formation of [Ag(CO)x][B(CF3)4] (x=3,4) at higher CO pressure. The 11B, 13C, and 19F NMR data as well as the structural parameters of the anion are compared with those for other borates containing F, CN, and CF3 ligands.

Absolute nu(2) Line Intensities of HOCl by Simultaneous Measurements in the Infrared with a Tunable Diode Laser and Far-Infrared Region Using a Fourier Transform Spectrometer.

We have measured absolute line intensities in the nu(2) fundamental band at 1238 cm(-1) of both isotopomers of hypochlorous acid, HOCl. To obtain the partial pressure of the species in the sample mixture, unavailable through direct measurement since HOCl exists only in equilibrium with H(2)O and Cl(2)O and may decay by secondary reactions, we relied on known absolute line intensities in the pure rotational far-infrared (FIR) spectrum determined from Stark effect measurements. We have thus recorded simultaneously the FIR pure rotation spectrum of HOCl using a Bruker IFS120HR interferometer and the spectrum of a few vibration-rotation lines in the infrared (IR) nu(2) band using a tunable diode laser spectrometer. The absolute intensities of these IR lines thus determined allowed us to "calibrate" the intensities of vibration-rotation lines in the whole nu(2) band, measured previously using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The treatment of the data took into account the blackbody emission contribution in the FIR and the evolution of the HOCl amount during the recording of the spectra. The latter was found to be almost constant over hours after conditioning of the cell. The square of the nu(2) band vibrational transition dipole moment was determined to be 0.013947(23) D(2) and 0.013870(51) D(2) for HO(35)Cl and HO(37)Cl, respectively, that is, 29 to 73% lower than previous measurements. A linear Herman-Wallis factor was also determined for both isotopomers. Finally, the line intensities were least-squares fitted using a model that takes into account a weak resonance between the (010) and (002) levels. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Conformational equilibrium and potential energy surface of 1-fluorobutane by microwave spectroscopy and Ab initio calculations

The rotational spectra of four (GT, TT, TG, and GG) of the five possible conformers of 1-fluorobutane have been assigned by combining free jet and conventional microwave spectroscopy. The geometry optimization was performed at the MP2 (full) level of theory with the 6-31G (d) and 6-311G (d, p) basis sets and by using the B3LYP (3df, 3pd) density functional method. The relative stability of the five rotamers is calculated at the QCISD (T)/6-311G (d, p) level of theory. In spite of the fact that ab initio calculations indicated the unobserved GG' conformer to be more stable than at least one of the observed conformers it was not possible to detect its rotational spectrum. GT and TG are the most and the least stable species, respectively. The rotational spectra of several vibrational satellites of the four conformers have been studied by conventional microwave spectroscopy. The overall conformational equilibrium is governed by the two-dimensional potential energy surface of the skeletal torsions MeC-CC and FC-CC, which have been evaluated by a flexible model analysis, based on the experimental values of the relative conformational and vibrational energy spacings, and on the shifts of second moments of inertia upon conformational change and vibrational excitation. The relative energy of the fifth stable conformer (GG') was determined to be 333 cm(-1) from flexible model calculations, and to be 271 cm(-1) from the most accurate ab initio calculations.

First High-Resolution Infrared Observation of the Symmetry-Forbidden nu(5) Band of (10)B(2)H(6).

Spectra of (10)B monoisotopic diborane, B(2)H(6), have been recorded at high resolution (2-3 x 10(-3) cm(-1)) by means of Fourier transform spectroscopy in the region 700-1300 cm(-1). A thorough analysis of the nu(18) a-type, nu(14) c-type, and nu(5) symmetry-forbidden band has been performed. Of particular interest are the results concerning the nu(5) symmetry-forbidden band, which is observed only because it borrows intensity through an a-type Coriolis interaction with the very strong nu(18) infrared band located approximately 350 cm(-1) higher in wavenumber. The nu(5) band has been observed around 833 cm(-1) and consists of a well-resolved Q branch accompanied by weaker P- and R-branch lines. Very anomalous line intensities are seen, with the low K(a) transitions being vanishingly weak, and Raman-like selection rules observed. The determination of the upper state Hamiltonian constants proved to be difficult since the corresponding energy levels of each of the bands are strongly perturbed by nearby dark states. To account for these strong localized resonances, it was necessary to introduce the relevant interacting terms in the Hamiltonian. As a result the upper state energy levels were calculated satisfactorily, and precise vibrational energies and rotational and coupling constants were determined. In particular the following band centers were derived: nu(0) (nu(5)) = 832.8496(70) cm(-1), nu(0) (nu(14)) = 977.57843(70) cm(-1), and nu(0) (nu(18)) = 1178.6346(40) cm(-1). (Type A standard uncertainties (1varsigma) are given in parentheses.) Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

High-Resolution Study of the Mid-Infrared Region of FNO(2).

Of the gas-phase IR spectrum of nitrylfluoride, FNO(2), between 1200 and 1900 cm(-1), the bands nu(4), 2nu(6), nu(2) + nu(3), and nu(1) have been studied at a resolution of ca. 0.003 cm(-1). Improved ground state rotational and centrifugal distortion constants have been obtained from a simultaneous analysis of the data from F. Hegelund, H. Bürger, and G. Pawelke [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 184, 350-361 (1997)] and the present data from nu(4) and nu(1). The nu(4) and 2nu(6) bands are free from local perturbations, and upper state spectroscopic constants have been obtained from the conventional Watson Hamiltonian. The bands nu(1) and nu(2) + nu(3) are strongly perturbed by Coriolis interactions with the nearby dark levels nu(5) + nu(6), nu(3) + nu(6), and nu(2) + nu(5). Upper state constants for nu(1) and nu(2) + nu(3) are obtained from triad and tetrad models, respectively, including Coriolis resonances within this system. In addition Coriolis interaction parameters and the vibrational energies for the three dark states together with some of their rotational constants are determined from the observed perturbation effects on nu(1) and nu(2) + nu(3). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

First Observation of the nu(17)-nu(4) Difference Bands of Diborane (10)B(2)H(6) and (11)B(2)H(6).

An analysis of the nu(17)-nu(4) difference bands near 800 cm(-1) of two isotopic species, (10)B(2)H(6) and (11)B(2)H(6), of diborane has been carried out using infrared spectra recorded with a resolution of ca. 0.003 cm(-1). In addition, the nu(17) band of (10)B(2)H(6) has been recorded and assigned. Since this band in (11)B(2)H(6) had already been studied (R. L. Sams, T. A. Blake, S. W. Sharpe, J.-M. Flaud, and W. J. Lafferty, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 191, 331-342 (1998)), it was possible to derive precise energy levels and Hamiltonian constants for the 4(1) vibrational states of both isotopic species. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

High-Resolution Infrared Study of the nu(7), nu(8), and nu(15) Bands and Millimeter-Wave Investigation of the v(8) = 1 State of CF(2)Cl-CH(3).

High-resolution (Deltavarsigma = 2.3 and 2.9 x 10(-3) cm(-1)) FTIR spectra of natural and (35)Cl monoisotopic CH(3)CF(2)Cl have been recorded at -70 degrees C in the 600-1400 cm(-1) range. The bands nu(7), nu(8), and nu(15) have been rotationally analyzed for both isotopic varieties. With the help of predictions based on nu(8) parameters, the millimeter-wave spectrum of the (35)Cl species in the v(8) = 1 state has been observed and jointly fitted with the IR data. Only a small number of local perturbations have been detected in the spectra. Altogether more than 8000 IR transitions have been fitted with an experimental precision of ca. 3 x 10(-4) cm(-1). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Rovibrational Analysis of the nu(6) Bands of Four Symmetric Isotopomers of FClO(3).

High-resolution (ca. 5 x 10(-3) cm(-1)) infrared spectra of monoisotopic samples of F(35)Cl(16)O(3), F(37)Cl(16)O(3), F(35)Cl(18)O(3), and F(37)Cl(18)O(3) have been recorded in the region of the nu(6) fundamental band. This band is centered at 405.6055, 405.5097, 390.5406, and 390.4984 cm(-1), respectively. About 1000 nonzero-weighted transitions were fitted for each isotopomer with an isolated band model, obtaining a s.d. on the residuals close to the experimental precision. Three different reductions of the Hamiltonian have been tested and found almost equally good, although FClO(3) is a nearly spherical top molecule. Each includes the l(2, 2) interaction and either a d(t) DeltaK = +/-3 interaction term (reduction Q) an epsilon(t) DeltaK = +/-3 interaction term (reduction QD), or an l(2, -1) interaction (reduction D). Good agreement between the theoretical predictions for these reductions and the experimental data is observed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.