Sulfur dioxide: Rotational constants and asymmetric structure of the state

Eight bands of the 2350 Å system of sulfur dioxide have been rotationally analyzed as A-type transitions of a prolate asymmetric rotor, confirming that the electronic transition is ¹B₂ ← ¹A₁2b₁(π^*) ← 1a₂(π)]. The electronic energy and rotational constants of the 0-0 band are, in cm⁻¹: These constants correspond to the average structure r₀ = 1.560 Å and θ₀ = 104.3°. However, the vibrational structure can only be satisfactorily accounted for on the hypothesis of a double-minimum potential in the antisymmetrical stretching coordinate Q₃, the energies of the fundamental levels in the three modes of the B₂ state being: (100), 960 cm⁻¹; (010), 377 cm⁻¹; and (001), 220 cm⁻¹ The (001) level is not observed in the spectrum but can be calculated from the distortion constants and inertial defect of the rotational analysis: the level (002) = 561 cm⁻¹, obtained directly from the vibrational structure, establishes that there is strong, positive anharmonicity in the first three levels of this vibration, as required by the assumption of a double-minimum potential function. Preliminary values are reported for the barrier to the symmetrical configuration, V/hc 100 cm⁻¹, and for the difference in bond distances in the equilibrium configuration, Δr0.12 Å. Coon and his co-workers have previously considered the possible asymmetry of this state but the Q₃ inversion barrier obtained by them, 656 cm⁻¹, is much higher than in the present work, and reasons for this are discussed.