Low-resolution microwave,infrared and Raman spectra,ab initio calculations and conformational analysis of 1-bromo-2-methoxyethane

The microwave spectrum of gaseous 1-bromo-2-methoxyethane, BrCH₂CH₂OCH₃, has been recorded from 18.0 to 27.0 GHz at low resolution. The Raman spectra of the gas, liquid, and solid along with the infrared spectra of the gas and solid have been recorded from 3500 to 50 cm^–1. A comparison of the vibrational spectra obtained for the fluid phases with those obtained for the annealed solid indicates the presence of more than one conformer in the fluid phases. The presence of two asymmetric rotors allows for five possible conformations, a majority of which are present in the gaseous phase. It is concluded that the conformation present in the solid phase is that of the gauche/trans (GT) form, where the first term refers to the carbon-bromine bond and the second term to the carbon-oxygen bond (methoxy group). In the gas phase the major absorption in the microwave spectrum is a result of the trans/trans (TT) form although it is certain that other conformations are also present. From a variable temperature study of the Raman spectrum of the liquid, the enthalpy difference between the conformers of the—OCH₃ group was found to be 850 ±115 cm^–1 (2.43±0.33 kcal/mol) whereas the difference between the conformers of the—CH₂Br group as found to be 510±24cm^–1 (1.46±0.07 kcal/mol). The conformational energy differences, vibrational frequencies, and structural parameters have been obtained from ab initio calculations with the STO-3G^* basis set, and these theoretical values are compared to the experimental values. All of these results are compared to similar data for some corresponding molecules.Taken in part from the thesis of R. A. Larsen which was submitted to the Department of Chemistry in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree.