High resolution FTIR spectroscopy of pentafluoroethane: perturbations in the Coriolis doublet of ν4 and ν13

The FTIR spectrum of pentafluoroethane (R125) was measured in the mid infrared region from 900 to 4000 cm⁻¹. Vibrational assignments for R125 are revised by comparison of previous and current experimental data with ab initio calculations at both the MP2/6-311+(d,p) and B3LYP/TZV+(3df,3p) levels of theory. High resolution FTIR spectra were recorded at room temperature and in an enclosive flow cell at a rotational temperature of 140 K. The cold spectrum was sufficiently resolved to enable rovibrational analyses of the overlapping ν₄ (1200.7341 cm⁻¹) and ν₁₃ (1223.3 cm⁻¹) bands, which have a/c hybrid and b-type character, respectively. Ground state combination differences were used to confirm assignment of 2375 lines to ν₄ (J_max = 86, K_{a max} = 50) and 2921 lines to ν₁₃ (J_max = 60, K_{a max} = 54). Effective rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were determined for ν₄, and the polarization ratio was found to be . Severe Coriolis perturbations prevent any satisfactory fit to the ν₁₃ band.