Low frequency vibrations of 1,3-butadiene, 1,3-butadiene-d4, and 1,3-butadiene-d6

The absorption bands in the far infrared due to the torsional and in-plane skeletal bending vibrations have been examined in detail together with some mid-infrared bands. Torsional energy level spacings up to v₁₃ = 5 for butadiene and up to v₁₃ = 4 and 3, respectively, for the d₄- and d₆-compounds have been measured accurately, and the data used to investigate the nature of the potential function for rotation about the CC single bond. A Coriolis interaction between the torsion and the in-plane bending mode ν₂₄ has been analyzed in detail.