Infrared crystal spectra of C2H4, C2D4, and as-C2H2D2 and the general harmonic force field of ethylene

Carbon-13 frequency shifts for C₂H₄, C₂D₄, and as-C₂H₂D₂ have been measured in isotopic solid solutions in crystalline films at 60 K. All but two of the shifts (for as-C₂H₂D₂) are compatible with recently determined ζ data for C₂H₄, with ¹³C frequency shifts for C₂H₄ and C₂D₄ in the gas phase and with conventional frequency data. Together, these data completely determine with precision all 18 parameters of the GHFF for ethylene, the previous ambiguity in choice between two sets of A_g species force constants being removed. The force field reproduces closely the observed centrifugal distortion constants for C₂H₄, a ζ constant observed for trans-C₂H₂D₂, and the inertia defects for C₂H₄, C₂D₄, and as-C₂H₂D₂. Vibration and rotation constants for all isotopically deuterated ethylenes are calculated.Possible explanations for the two anomalous crystal shifts in as-C₂H₂D₂ involve the effects of the crystal field, and failure of the use of Dennison's rule for making anharmonic corrections to the shifts. The former explanation is preferred as a result of thorough analysis of the anharmonicity constants for as-C₂H₂D₂ determined from many overtone and combination bands in the gas and crystal spectra.