Torsional splitting and the four-fold barrier to internal rotation: The rotational spectra of vinylsulfur pentafluoride.

Vinylsulfur pentafluoride (VSPF), a molecule with a four-fold internal rotor, -SF4, has been studied with high resolution Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. We believe that this is the first report of resolved four-fold internal rotation. As such, we have presented the tools needed to understand and analyze such a problem. These include debugging the ERHAM computer program necessary to fit the spectra and the free rotor to high barrier correlation diagram necessary to understand the torsional states of the four-fold rotor. The A, E, and B torsional state rotational transitions are well resolved and assigned. Spectroscopic transitions of four isotopologues of VSPF, H2C=CH-SF5, the normal isotopologue, and the singly substituted 34S and 13C isotopologues were measured and assigned. Contrary to expectation, the A torsional state could not be fit with only a semi-rigid Hamiltonian. The barrier to internal rotation, V 4, is found to be 227 cm-1. Ab initio calculations at the MP2 aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory and basis set were performed and the results of this calculation are compared to our experimental results.

Microwave Spectra, Structure, and Ring-Puckering Vibration of Octafluorocyclopentene.

The rotational spectra of octafluorocyclopentene (C5F8) has been measured for the first time using pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in a frequency range of 6 to 16 GHz. As in the molecule cyclopentene, the carbon ring is nonplanar, and inversion through the plane results in an inversion pair of ground state vibrational energy levels with an inversion splitting of 18.4 MHz. This large amplitude motion leads to the vibration-rotation coupling of energy levels. The symmetric double minimum ring-puckering potential function was calculated, resulting in a barrier of 222 cm-1. The rotational constants A0 = 962.9590(1) MHz, B0 = 885.1643(4) MHz, C0 = 616.9523(4) MHz, A1 = 962.9590(1) MHz, B1 = 885.1643(4) MHz, C1 = 616.9528(4) MHz, and two centrifugal distortion constants for each state were determined for the parent species and all 13C isotopologues. A mixed coordinate molecular structure was determined from a least-squares fit of the ground state rotational constants of the parent and each 13C isotopologue combined with the equilibrium bond lengths and angles from quantum chemical calculations.

Microwave spectra and structure of the argon-cyclopentanone and neon-cyclopentanone van der Waals complexes.

The rotational spectra of cyclopentanone and its van der Waals complexes with argon and neon have been observed with a Balle-Flygare type pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectrometer in the 6 to 20 GHz region. This work improves the rotational constants and quartic centrifugal distortion constants for cyclopentanone and its five (13)C and the (18)O isotopologues. The argon-(12)C5H8(16)O van der Waals complex has rotational constants of A = 2611.6688, B = 1112.30298, and C = 971.31969 MHz. The (20)Ne-(12)C5H8(16)O complex has rotational constants of A = 2728.8120, B = 1736.5882, and C = 1440.4681 MHz. In addition, the five unique, singly substituted (13)C and (18)O isotopologues of the argon complex are reported. The five single-substituted (13)C of the (20)Ne complex and the (22)Ne-(12)C5H8(16)O complex are reported. The rare gases are in van der Waals contact with the carbonyl α carbon and nearly in contact with the hydrogen on ß and γ carbons toward the back of the ring.

Rotational spectrum and structure of cyclohexene oxide and the argon-cyclohexene oxide van der Waals complex.

The rotational spectra of cyclohexene oxide and its van der Waals complex with argon have been observed with a Balle-Flygare type pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectrometer in the 6 to 20 GHz region. This work improves the existing rotational and quartic centrifugal distortion constants of cyclohexene oxide, its six singly substituted (13)C, and the (18)O isotopologue. In addition, the (17)O isotopologue was observed in natural abundance. The quadrupole coupling constants for the (17)O isotopologue are χ(aa) = 8.855(5), χ(bb) = -4.560(4), and χ(cc) = -4.296(4) MHz. The argon-(12)C6H10(16)O complex has rotational constants of A = 2146.4825(2), B = 908.64292(8), and C = 859.00320(8) MHz. Additionally, the six unique singly substituted (13)C isotopologues of the argon complex are reported here. The position of the argon that is consistent with the parent and six (13)C complex rotational constants is above the ring on the side opposite the epoxide.

Bis-trifluoromethyl effect: doubled transitions in the rotational spectra of hexafluoroisobutene, (CF3)2C═CH2.

Rotational spectra for hexafluoroisobutene, and its (13)C isotopologues, have been recorded between 8 and 16 GHz using a chirped pulse, Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Notably, all spectra observed are doubled with separations between the doublets being between 1 and 60 MHz. We propose that the bis-trifluoromethyl groups of the target molecule are staggered in the equilibrium configuration, and that a novel, out-of-phase rotation through a F-CCC-F planar configuration with low barrier (<100 cm(-1)), leads to the observed doubled rotational spectra.

Determination of the structure of cyclopentene oxide and the argon-cyclopentene oxide van der Waals complex.

Rotational spectra of cyclopentene oxide and the argon-cyclopentene oxide van der Waals complex were studied using pulsed-jet Fabry-Perot Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy. Spectra of the parent along with those of the (13)C and (18)O singly substituted isotopologues, in natural abundance, of the monomer and of the complex were measured in the frequency region of 5-26.5 GHz. The complete heavy atom substitution structure was determined for the monomer and complex. The boat structure for cyclopentene oxide was confirmed with naturally abundant (13)C and (18)O isotopes. For the argon cyclopentene oxide complex, both a and b-type transitions were observed and the rotational constants for the all-(12)C (16)O isotopologue were determined to be A = 3268.254(2), B = 993.345(1), and C = 950.430(9) MHz. The r(0) coordinates of the argon in the principal axis system of cyclopentene oxide are a = 0.27, b = 0.42, and c = 3.91 A, such that the argon is exo to the boat of the ring and on the opposite side of the ring from the oxygen and is 0.42 A off to the side and 0.27 A from the center of mass toward the back end of the ring (again away from the oxygen). Large amplitude van der Waals bending vibrations require an averaging model to account for differences between the observed complex and monomer planar moments of inertia.

Microwave spectrum of the argon-tropolone van der Waals complex.

The rotational spectrum of the argon-tropolone van der Waals complex in the ground vibrational state has been measured in the frequency range of 6-17 GHz using a pulsed-jet, Balle-Flygare-type Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Eighty-six transitions for the complex (Ar-(12)C(7)H(6)(16)O(2)) were observed, assigned, and fit using a Watson A-reduction Hamiltonian giving the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants A = 1080.4365(3) MHz, B = 883.4943(3) MHz, C = 749.0571(2) MHz, Delta(J) = 2.591(2) kHz, Delta(JK) = -3.32(1) kHz, Delta(K) = 5.232(9) kHz, delta(J) = 0.944(1) kHz, and delta(K) = -0.028(8) kHz. The tunneling motion of the hydroxyl proton in the tropolone moiety is quenched in the ground electronic state by complexation with argon. The coordinates of the argon atom in the monomer's principal axis system are a = 0.43 A, b = 0.23 A, and c = 3.48 A.

High-resolution studies of tropolone in the S0 and S1 electronic states: isotope driven dynamics in the zero-point energy levels.

Rotationally resolved microwave (MW) and ultraviolet (UV) spectra of jet-cooled tropolone have been obtained in S(0) and S(1) electronic states using Fourier-transform microwave and UV-laser/molecular-beam spectrometers. In the ground electronic state, the MW spectra of all heavy-atom isotopomers including one (18)O and four (13)C isotopomers were observed in natural abundance. The OD isotopomer was obtained from isotopically enriched samples. The two lowest tunneling states of each isotopomer except (18)O have been assigned. The observed inversion splitting for the OD isotopomer is 1523.227(5) MHz. For the asymmetric (13)C structures, the magnitudes of tunneling-rotation interactions are found to diminish with decreasing distance between the heavy atom and the tunneling proton. In the limit of closest approach, the 0(+) state of (18)O was well fitted to an asymmetric rotor Hamiltonian, reflecting significant changes in the tautomerization dynamics. Comparisons of the substituted atom coordinates with theoretical predictions at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory suggest the localized 0(+) and 0(-) wave functions of the heavier isotopes favor the C-OH and C=O forms of tropolone, respectively. The only exception occurs for the (13)C-OH and (13)C[Double Bond]O structures which correlate to the 0(-) and 0(+) states, respectively. These preferences reflect kinetic isotope effects as quantitatively verified by the calculated zero-point energy differences between members of the asymmetric atom pairs. From rotationally resolved data of the 0(+) <--0(+) and 0(-) <--0(-) bands in S(1), line-shape fits have yielded Lorentzian linewidths that differ by 12.2(16) MHz over the 19.88(4) cm(-1) interval in S(1). The fluorescence decay rates together with previously reported quantum yield data give nonradiative decay rates of 7.7(5) x 10(8) and 8.5(5) x 10(8) s(-1) for the 0(+) and 0(-) levels of the S(1) state of tropolone.