The vibrational levels of ammonia

A new six-dimensional potential energy function (PEF) of ammonia expressed in internal coordinates is determined by fitting to points evaluated by Density Functional Theory with the B97-1 functional. The C3v and D3h structures are treated on an equal footing. The inversion barrier is 1820 cm(-1), which is in very good agreement with the experimental value of 1834 cm(-1). The minimum 'reaction path' is well defined by the analytic function up to 40 degrees for the umbrella angle. Using this PEF, the vibrational levels are calculated variationally using three different methods. The first employs the internal kinetic energy operator developed for ammonia by Handy, Carter and Colwell (Mol. Phys. 96 (1999) 477). The second uses the code MULTIMODE (J. Chem. Phys. 107 (1997) 10458), which involves the kinetic energy operator as expressed in normal coordinates by Watson. The third uses an implementation of the reaction path hamiltonian (J. Chem. Phys. 72 (1980) 99) within the MULTIMODE code. All three approaches give similar energies for the vibrational energies of ammonia, and these agree with experiment to within 15 cm(-1) for the fundamental vibrations.     

Fluorescence and ultraviolet absorption spectra and structure of coumaran and its ring-puckering potential energy function in the S1(pi,pi*) excited state

The fluorescence excitation (jet cooled), single vibrational level fluorescence, and the ultraviolet absorption spectra of coumaran associated with its S1(pi,pi*) electronic excited state have been recorded and analyzed. The assignment of more than 70 transitions has allowed a detailed energy map of both the S0 and S1 states of the ring-puckering (nu45) vibration to be determined in the excited states of nine other vibrations, including the ring-flapping (nu43) and ring-twisting (nu44) vibrations. Despite some interaction with nu43 and nu44, a one-dimensional potential energy function for the ring puckering very nicely predicts the experimentally determined energy level spacings. In the S1(pi,pi*) state coumaran is quasiplanar with a barrier to planarity of 34 cm(-1) and with energy minima at puckering angles of +/-14 degrees. The corresponding ground state (S0) values are 154 cm(-1) and +/-25 degrees . As is the case with the related molecules indan, phthalan, and 1,3-benzodioxole, the angle strain in the five-membered ring increases upon the pi-->pi* transition within the benzene ring and this increases the rigidity of the attached ring. Theoretical calculations predict the expected increases of the carbon-carbon bond lengths of the benzene ring in S1, and they predict a barrier of 21 cm(-1) for this state. The bond length increases at the bridgehead carbon-carbon bond upon electron excitation to the S1(pi,pi*) state give rise to angle changes which result in greater angle strain and a nearly planar molecule.     

Raman and infrared spectra, ab initio and DFT calculations, and vibrational assignments for 2,3-cyclopentenopyridine

The structural properties of 2,3-cyclopentenopyridine (pyrindan) have been investigated using several spectroscopic and computational techniques. The Raman and infrared spectra of the molecule have been recorded and a full vibrational assignment was proposed on the basis of experimental and theoretical results. The vapor-phase Raman spectrum was successfully obtained at 260 degrees C without sample decomposition. Density functional theory (DFT) and M?ller-Plesset (MP2) calculations predict that the presence of the nitrogen atom in the six-membered ring has almost no effect on the barrier to inversion (587 cm(-1)) and puckering frequency (139 cm(-1)) as compared to the values previously determined (488 cm(-1) and 143 cm(-1)) for the indan molecule.     

Gas-phase Raman spectra and the potential energy function for the internal rotation of 1,3-butadiene and its isotopologues

The gas-phase Raman spectra of 1,3-butadiene and its 2,3-d(2), 1,1,4,4-d(4), and -d(6) isotopologues have been recorded with high sensitivity in the region below 350 cm(-1) in order to investigate the internal rotation (torsional) vibration. Based on more accurate structural information, the internal rotor constants F(n) were calculated as a function of rotation angle (?). The data for all the isotopologues were then fit using a one-dimensional potential energy function of the form V = (1)/(2)∑V(n)(1 - cos ?). Initial V(n) values were based on those generated from theoretical calculations. The agreement between observed and calculated frequencies is very good, although bands not taken into account were present in the spectra. The energy difference between the trans and gauche forms was determined to be about 1030 cm(-1) (2.94 kcal/mol), and the barrier between the two equivalent gauche forms was determined to be about 180 cm(-1) (0.51 kcal/mol), which agrees well with high-level ab initio calculations. An alternative set of assignments also fits the data quite well for all of the isotopologues. For this model, the energy difference between the trans and gauche forms is about 1080 cm(-1) (3.09 kcal/mol), and the barrier between gauche forms is about 405 cm(-1) (1.16 kcal/mol).     

Ab-initio molecular geometry and normal coordinate analysis of tetrahydrothiophene molecule.

The molecular geometry of tetrahydrothiophene (THT) was quantum mechanically calculated using the split valence 6-31G** basis set. Electron correlation energy has been computed employing MP2 method. The molecule showed a twist form puckered structure with a twist torsion angle of 13 degrees and has a total energy of -347,877.514 kcal/mol of which a 436.715 kcal/mol electron correlation energy. The envelope form of the molecule showed an inter-plane angle of 22 degrees and has a total energy of -347,874.430 kcal/mol involving -436.558 kcal/mol electron correlation energy. The normal coordinates of the molecule were theoretically analyzed and the fundamental vibrational frequencies were calculated. The IR and laser Raman spectra of THT molecule was measured. All the observed vibrational bands including combination bands and overtones were assigned to normal modes with the aid of the potential energy distribution values obtained from normal coordinate calculations. The molecular force field was determined by refining the initial set of force constants using the least square fit method instead of using the less accurate scaling factor methods. The determined molecular force field has produced simulated frequencies which best match the observed values. The lowest-energy modes of vibration were two molecular out-of-plane deformations, observed at 114 and 166 cm(-1). The barrier of ring twisting estimated from the observed ring out-of-plane vibrational mode at 114 cm(-1) was estimated.     

Ab-initio molecular geometry and normal coordinate analysis of pyrrolidine molecule.

The molecular geometry of pyrrolidine was quantum mechanically calculated using the split valence 6-31G** basis set. Electron correlation energy has been computed employing MP2 method. The molecule showed an envelope form puckered structure with inter-plane angle of 36.4 degrees and has a total energy of -132976.80 kcal mol(-1) of which a -464.86 kcal mol(-1) electron correlation energy. The twist form of the molecule showed a twist angle of 10.2 degrees from planarity and has a total energy of -132976.05 kcal mol(-1) involving -464.097 kcal mol(-1) electron correlation energy. The normal coordinates of the molecule were theoretically analyzed on the basis of the Cs point symmetry of the envelope form. Using initial set of force constants obtained from the ab-initio calculations the fundamental vibrational frequencies were computed. The IR and laser Raman spectra of Pyrrolidine molecules were measured. All the observed vibrational bands including combination bands and overtones were assigned to normal modes with the aid of the potential energy distribution values obtained from normal coordinate calculations. The molecular force field was obtained by refining the initial set of force constants using the least square fit method. The molecular force field was determined by refining the initial set of force constants using the least square fit method instead of using the less accurate scaling factor methods. The determined molecular force field has produced simulated frequencies best match to the observed values. The low frequency molecular out-of-plane deformation modes were observed in both infrared and Raman spectra at 298 and 163 cm(-1). The barrier of ring twisting estimated from the observed ring out-of-plane vibrational mode at 163 cm(-1) was found 3.1 kcal mol(-1).     

Origin of threefold symmetric torsional potential of methyl group in 4-methylstyrene

To understand the effect of the para position vinyl group substitution in toluene on methyl torsion, we investigated 4-methylstyrene, a benchmark molecule with an extended pi conjugation. The assignment for a 33 cm(-1) band in the excitation spectrum to the 3a(2) torsional transition, in addition to the assignments suggested previously for the other bands in the excitation spectrum, leads to the model potentials for the ground as well as excited states with V(3) (")=19.6 cm(-1), V(6) (")=-16.4 cm(-1) and V(3) (')=25.6 cm(-1), V(6) (')=-30.1 cm(-1), respectively. These potentials reveal that both in ground and excited states, the methyl group conformations are staggered with a 60 degrees phase shift between them. MP2 ab initio calculations support the ground state conformations determined from experiments, whereas Hartree-Fock calculations fail to do so. The origin of the modified ground state potential has been investigated by partitioning the barrier energy using the natural bond orbital (NBO) theoretical framework. The NBO analysis shows that the local delocalization (bond-antibond hyperconjugation) interactions of the methyl group with the parent molecule is sixfold symmetric. The threefold symmetric potential, on the other hand, stems from the interaction of the vinyl group and the adjacent ring pi bond. The threefold symmetric structural energy arising predominantly from the pi electron contribution is the barrier forming term that overwhelms the antibarrier contribution of the delocalization energy. The observed 60 degrees phase shift of the excited state potential is attributed to the pi(*)-sigma(*) hyperconjugation between out of plane hydrogens of the methyl group and the benzene ring.     

Conformational stability from temperature-dependent fourier transform infrared spectra of noble gas solutions, r0 structural parameters, and barriers to internal rotation for ethylamine

Variable temperature (-55 to -145 degrees C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500 to 100 cm(-1)) of ethylamine, CH(3)CH(2)NH(2), dissolved in liquid krypton and/or xenon have been recorded. From these data, the enthalpy differences have been determined to be 54 +/- 4 cm(-1) (0.65 +/- 0.05 kJ/mol), with the trans conformer (methyl group relative to the lone pair of electrons on nitrogen) being the more stable form. It is estimated that there is 61 +/- 1% of the doubly degenerate gauche form present at ambient temperature. The conformational energetics have been calculated with the M?ller-Plesset perturbation method to the second order (MP2(full)) and the fourth order (MP4(SDTQ)) as well as with density functional theory by the B3LYP method utilizing a variety of basis sets. Basis sets with diffuse functions lead to incorrect prediction of the conformational stability. On the basis of the frequencies of the torsional transitions along with the determined experimental enthalpy difference and gauche dihedral angle, the potential function governing conformational interchange has been obtained, and the determined Fourier cosine coefficients are V(1) = -207 +/- 48, V(2) = 320 +/- 67, V(3) = 1072 +/- 25, V(4) = 55 +/- 11, and V(5) = -96 +/- 28 cm(-1), with a trans-to-gauche barrier of 1286 cm(-1), and a gauche-to-gauche barrier of 715 cm(-1). The 3-fold methyl rotational barriers have been determined to be 1241 +/- 4 and 1281 +/- 10 cm(-1) for the gauche and trans conformers, respectively. By utilizing the previously reported microwave rotational constants combined with the structural parameters predicted at the MP2(full)/6-311+ G(d,p) level, adjusted r(0) structural parameters have been obtained. A complete vibrational assignment is given for the trans conformer, which is supported by normal coordinate calculations utilizing scaled force constants from ab initio B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) calculations. Proposed assignments are also made for the fundamentals of the gauche conformer. The results of these spectroscopic and theoretical studies are discussed and compared to the corresponding results for similar molecules.     

Origin of methyl torsional barrier in 1-methyl-2-(1H)-pyridone

The laser induced fluorescence excitation and single vibronic excitation dispersed fluorescence spectra have been studied for supersonic jet cooled 1-methyl-2(1h)-pyridone. The methyl torsional bands and some low frequency vibrational transitions were assigned for both ground and excited states. The torsional parameters V(3)=244 cm(-1) and V(6)=15 cm(-1) for the ground state and V(3)=164 cm(-1) and V(6)=40 cm(-1) for the excited state were obtained. To get the insight into the methyl torsional barrier, ab initio calculations were performed and compared with the experimental results. Origin of potential barrier was traced by partitioning the barrier energy into changes in bond-antibond interaction, structural, and steric energies accompanying methyl rotation using natural bond orbital analysis. The role of local interactions in ascertaining the barrier potential reveals that its nature cannot be understood without considering the molecular flexing. The hyperconjugation between CHsigma(*) and ring pi(*) observed in lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) stabilizes the methyl group conformer that undergoes a 60 degrees rotation in the excited state with respect to that of the ground state, and it is the change in LUMO that plays important role in the excited state barrier formation.     

Interplanar torsion in the S1<--S0 electronic spectrum of jet cooled 1-phenylimidazole

The S(1)<--S(0) transition of 1-phenylimidazole (1PI) has been studied in a supersonic jet expansion by resonant two-photon ionization. The origin band at 36 075 cm(-1) is accompanied by a low frequency progression associated with torsion about the bond connecting phenyl and imidazole groups. Torsional potentials have been determined for both states. In S(0), phi(min)=37.2+/-0.5 degrees and the planar barrier is 339+/-20 cm(-1), while in S(1), phi(min)=17.6+/-0.5 degrees and the planar barrier is 57+/-2 cm(-1). The transition moment alignment is observed to be consistent with an excited state of L(b) character, in spite of the "off-axis" conjugation provided by the imidazole ring. These results are compared with ab initio calculations on both states, performed using Hartree-Fock, M?ller-Plesset second-order perturbation, density functional theory with the Becke3-Lee-Yang-Parr functional, time-dependent density functional theory, configuration interaction singles, and complete active space self-consistent field methods. Solution-phase UV spectra of neutral and protonated 1PI are also reported.     

Full-dimensional quantum calculations of ground-state tunneling splitting of malonaldehyde using an accurate ab initio potential energy surface

Quantum calculations of the ground vibrational state tunneling splitting of H-atom and D-atom transfer in malonaldehyde are performed on a full-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface (PES). The PES is a fit to 11 147 near basis-set-limit frozen-core CCSD(T) electronic energies. This surface properly describes the invariance of the potential with respect to all permutations of identical atoms. The saddle-point barrier for the H-atom transfer on the PES is 4.1 kcalmol, in excellent agreement with the reported ab initio value. Model one-dimensional and "exact" full-dimensional calculations of the splitting for H- and D-atom transfer are done using this PES. The tunneling splittings in full dimensionality are calculated using the unbiased "fixed-node" diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method in Cartesian and saddle-point normal coordinates. The ground-state tunneling splitting is found to be 21.6 cm(-1) in Cartesian coordinates and 22.6 cm(-1) in normal coordinates, with an uncertainty of 2-3 cm(-1). This splitting is also calculated based on a model which makes use of the exact single-well zero-point energy (ZPE) obtained with the MULTIMODE code and DMC ZPE and this calculation gives a tunneling splitting of 21-22 cm(-1). The corresponding computed splittings for the D-atom transfer are 3.0, 3.1, and 2-3 cm(-1). These calculated tunneling splittings agree with each other to within less than the standard uncertainties obtained with the DMC method used, which are between 2 and 3 cm(-1), and agree well with the experimental values of 21.6 and 2.9 cm(-1) for the H and D transfer, respectively.     

Characterization of singlet ground and low-lying electronic excited states of phosphaethyne and isophosphaethyne

The singlet ground ((approximate)X(1)Sigma1+) and excited (1Sigma-,1Delta) states of HCP and HPC have been systematically investigated using ab initio molecular electronic structure theory. For the ground state, geometries of the two linear stationary points have been optimized and physical properties have been predicted utilizing restricted self-consistent field theory, coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD), CCSD with perturbative triple corrections [CCSD(T)], and CCSD with partial iterative triple excitations (CCSDT-3 and CC3). Physical properties computed for the global minimum ((approximate)X(1)Sigma+HCP) include harmonic vibrational frequencies with the cc-pV5Z CCSD(T) method of omega1=3344 cm(-1), omega2=689 cm(-1), and omega3=1298 cm(-1). Linear HPC, a stationary point of Hessian index 2, is predicted to lie 75.2 kcal mol(-1) above the global minimum HCP. The dissociation energy D0[HCP((approximate)X(1)Sigma+)-->H(2S)+CP(X2Sigma+)] of HCP is predicted to be 119.0 kcal mol(-1), which is very close to the experimental lower limit of 119.1 kcal mol(-1). Eight singlet excited states were examined and their physical properties were determined employing three equation-of-motion coupled cluster methods (EOM-CCSD, EOM-CCSDT-3, and EOM-CC3). Four stationary points were located on the lowest-lying excited state potential energy surface, 1Sigma- -->1A", with excitation energies Te of 101.4 kcal mol(-1) (1A"HCP), 104.6 kcal mol(-1)(1Sigma-HCP), 122.3 kcal mol(-1)(1A" HPC), and 171.6 kcal mol(-1)(1Sigma-HPC) at the cc-pVQZ EOM-CCSDT-3 level of theory. The physical properties of the 1A" state with a predicted bond angle of 129.5 degrees compare well with the experimentally reported first singlet state ((approximate)A1A"). The excitation energy predicted for this excitation is T0=99.4 kcal mol(-1) (34 800 cm(-1),4.31 eV), in essentially perfect agreement with the experimental value of T0=99.3 kcal mol(-1)(34 746 cm(-1),4.308 eV). For the second lowest-lying excited singlet surface, 1Delta-->1A', four stationary points were found with Te values of 111.2 kcal mol(-1) (2(1)A' HCP), 112.4 kcal mol(-1) (1Delta HPC), 125.6 kcal mol(-1)(2(1)A' HCP), and 177.8 kcal mol(-1)(1Delta HPC). The predicted CP bond length and frequencies of the 2(1)A' state with a bond angle of 89.8 degrees (1.707 A, 666 and 979 cm(-1)) compare reasonably well with those for the experimentally reported (approximate)C(1)A' state (1.69 A, 615 and 969 cm(-1)). However, the excitation energy and bond angle do not agree well: theoretical values of 108.7 kcal mol(-1) and 89.8 degrees versus experimental values of 115.1 kcal mol(-1) and 113 degrees. of 115.1 kcal mol(-1) and 113 degrees.     

Ab initio large-amplitude quantum-tunneling dynamics in vinyl radical: a vibrationally adiabatic approach

Large-amplitude tunneling in vinyl radical over a C2v planar transition state involves CCH bending excitation coupled to all other internal coordinates, resulting in a significant dependence of barrier height and shape on vibrational degrees of freedom at the zero-point level. An ab initio potential surface for vinyl radical has been calculated at the CCSD(T) level (AVnZ; n=2, 3, 4, 5) for vibrationally adiabatic 1D motion along the planar CCH bending tunneling coordinate, extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit and corrected for anharmonic zero-point effects. The polyatomic reduced moment of inertia is calculated explicitly as a function of tunneling coordinate, with eigenvalues and tunneling splittings obtained from numerical solution of the resulting 1D Schr?dinger equation. Linear scaling of the CBS potential to match predicted and observed tunneling splittings empirically yields an adiabatic barrier height of DeltaEadiab=1696(20) cm(-1) which, when corrected for zero-point energy contributions, translates into an effective barrier of DeltaEeff=1602(20) cm(-1) consistent with estimates (DeltaE=1580(100) cm(-1)) by Tanaka and coworkers [J. Chem. Phys., 2004, 120, 3604-3618]. These zero-point-corrected potential surfaces are used to predict tunneling dynamics in vibrationally excited states of vinyl radical, providing strong support for previous jet-cooled high-resolution infrared studies [Dong et al., J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 3059-3070] in the symmetric CH2 stretch mode.     

A calculation of the rovibronic energies and spectrum of the B1A1 electronic state of SiH2

The B1A1 electronic state of silylene (SiH2) is the second excited singlet state of the molecule and, like the analogous c state of methylene (CH2), it is quasilinear with symmetry 1sigmag+ at linearity. This state dissociates to Si(1D) + H2(1sigmag+). At equilibrium, the B state of SiH2 has an energy that we calculate to be 0.71 eV above that of the dissociation products. However, there is a barrier to dissociation that allows quasibound rovibrational levels to occur, and some have been observed recently [Y. Muramoto et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 154302 (2005)]. Starting with our analytical ab initio potential-energy surface, we adjusted it in a fitting to the experimental term values in order to determine the optimum potential-energy function in the bound region. This potential has a C2v equilibrium structure with a SiH bond length of 1.459 angstroms and a bond angle of 165.4 degrees; the barrier to linearity is only 129 cm(-1). Using the optimized potential-energy surface we calculate B-state term values, and using our calculated y and z dipole moment surfaces, we simulate the rotation-vibration spectrum of the state in order to assist in the detection of the matrix isolation spectrum.     

Near-infrared spectra and rovibrational dynamics on a four-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface of (HBr)2

Supersonic jet investigations of the (HBr)(2) dimer have been carried out using a tunable diode laser spectrometer to provide accurate data for comparison with results from a four-dimensional (4-D) ab initio potential energy surface (PES). The near-infrared nu(1) (+/-), nu(2) (+/-), and (nu(1)+nu(4))(-) bands of (H (79)Br)(2), (H (79)Br-H (81)Br), and (H (81)Br)(2) isotopomers have been recorded in the range 2500-2600 cm(-1) using a CW slit jet expansion with an upgraded near-infrared diode laser spectrometer. The 4-D PES has been calculated for (HBr)(2) using second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory with an augmented and polarized 6-311G basis set. The potential is characterized by a global minimum occurring at the H bond structure with the distance between the center of masses (CM) of the monomer being R(CM)=4.10 A with angles theta(A)=10 degrees, theta(B)=100 degrees and a well depth of 692.2 cm(-1), theta(A) is the angle the HBr bond of monomer A makes with the vector from the CM of A to the CM of B, and theta(B) is the corresponding angle monomer B makes with the same CM-CM vector. The barrier for the H interchange occurs at the closed C(2h) structure for which R(CM)=4.07 A, theta(A)=45 degrees, theta(B)=135 degrees, and the barrier height is 73.9 cm(-1). The PES was fitted using a linear-least squares method and the rovibrational energy levels of the complex were calculated by a split pseudospectral method. The spectroscopic data provide accurate molecular parameters for the dimer that are then compared with the results predicted on the basis of the 4-D ab initio PES.     

Ab initio prediction of the potential energy surface and vibrational-rotational energy levels of calcium dihydride, CaH2

The equilibrium structure and potential energy surface of calcium dihydride, CaH(2), have been determined from large-scale ab initio calculations using the coupled-cluster method, CCSD(T), in conjunction with basis sets of quadruple- and quintuple-zeta quality. The CaH(2) molecule was found to be quasilinear. The HCaH bending potential function was predicted to be extraordinarily flat near the minimum, located at the HCaH angle of 164 degrees. The barrier to linearity was calculated to be just 6 cm(-1). The vibrational-rotational energy levels of various isotopomers were predicted using the variational method. The calculated vibrational fundamental frequencies are in good agreement with the results of matrix-isolation studies, and the other predicted spectroscopic constants can assist in the future detection of calcium dihydride in the gas phase.     

Probing the acidity of p-substituted phenols in the excited state: electronic spectroscopy of the p-cyanophenol-water cluster.

The hydrogen bond structure of the p-cyanophenol-water cluster has been determined in the ground and first excited electronic state by rotationally resolved UV spectroscopy. The water molecule is trans-linearly bound to the hydroxy group of the p-cyanophenol moiety, with hydrogen bond distances considerably shorter in both electronic states than in the similar phenol-water cluster. The structure of the cluster has been elucidated by ab initio calculations at various levels of theory and compared to the experimental findings. The barriers to internal rotation of the water moiety were determined experimentally to be 275 and 183 cm(-1) for the ground and excited state, respectively. Hydrogen bond distances and the energy barrier to water torsion correlate with the pK(a) values of different substituted phenols for both electronic states.     

Conformational stabilities and structural parameters of (CH3)(n)CH(3-n) CFO molecules

Variable temperature (-60 to -100 degrees C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500-400 cm(-1)) of propionyl fluoride (CH3CH2CFO) and 2-methylpropionyl fluoride ((CH3)2CHCFO), dissolved in liquid xenon have been recorded. From these data, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 329 +/- 33 cm(-1) (3.94 +/- 0.39 kJ/mol) for propionyl fluoride with the trans conformer (methyl group eclipsing the oxygen atom) more stable than the gauche form. For 2-methylpropionyl fluoride, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 297 +/- 30 cm(-1) (3.55 +/- 0.36 kJ/mol) with the gauche conformer (methyl group eclipsing the oxygen atom) more stable than the trans form. From these DeltaH values along with assigned torsional fundamentals for both conformers and accompanying "hot bands" the potential functions governing the conformational interchange have been calculated. Utilizing the infrared data from the xenon solution and ab initio frequency predictions from MP2/6-31G* calculations, a few reassignments of the fundamentals have been made. Ab initio calculations have been carried out with several different basis sets up to MP2/6-311 + G** from which structural parameters and conformational stabilities have been determined. Additionally, force constants, infrared intensities, Raman activities, depolarization ratios, and scaled vibrational frequencies have been determined from MP2/6-31G* calculations. Adjusted structural parameters have been obtained from combined ab initio predicted values and previously reported microwave data. These parameters are compared to those obtained from either the earlier microwave and/or electron diffraction studies. Similar ab initio calculations and structural parameter determinations have been carried out for acetyl fluoride (CH3CFO) and trimethylacetyl fluoride ((CH3)3CCFO) and compared to the corresponding experimental results when appropriate.     

An accurate ab initio potential energy surface and calculated spectroscopic constants for BeH2, BeD2, and BeHD

A three-dimensional potential energy surface for the ground electronic state of BeH(2) has been determined by three-dimensional spline interpolation over 6864 symmetry-unique ab initio points calculated at the icMRCI/aug-cc-pV5Z level and corrected for core-electron correlation computed at the MR-ACPF/cc-pCV5Z level. Calculated spectroscopic constants of BeH(2) and BeD(2) are in excellent agreement with recent experimental results: for 11 bands of BeH(2) and 5 bands of BeD(2) the root mean square (rms) band origin discrepancies were only 0.15(+/-0.09) and 0.46(+/-0.19) cm(-1), respectively, and the rms relative discrepancies in the inertial rotational constants (B([v])) were only 0.028% and 0.023%, respectively. Spectral constants for BeHD were predicted using the same potential surface. The effect of different interpolation methods on predicted potential function values and on the calculated level energies and spectroscopic constants has been examined.