Far-infrared spectrum,barrier to internal rotation,ro structure,and ab initio calculations for acetylacetylene

The far-infrared spectrum has been recorded from 50 to 360 cm^–1 at a resolution of 0.10 cm^–1 for acetyiacetylene (1-butyne-3-one], CH₃C(O)CCH. The fundamental methyl torsion has been observed at 117.94 cm^–1, from which a periodic barrier to internal rotation has been calculated to be 346 cm^–1 (989 cal mol^–1]. Infrared spectra (3500-50 cm^–1] of the gas and solid and the Raman spectra (3500-100 cm^–1) of the gas, liquid, and solid are reported. Utilizing previously reported rotational constants for three isotopic species,r _o structural parameters have been determined for the heavy-atom skeleton. The fundamental vibrational frequencies, barrier to internal rotation, and structural parameters that have been obtained experimentally are compared to those obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations employing 3-21G, 6-31G, and DZ basis sets and to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.