Photophysics and photochemical dynamics of chlorotoluene molecule

Laser-induced fluorescence spectra of jet-cooled chlorotoluene molecules are reported for the S₁ state. The fluorescence excitation spectrum of m-chlorotoluene shows some low-frequency bands up to 200 cm⁻¹ above the S₁ origin, which are assigned to internal rotational modes of the methyl group. Beyond 300 cm⁻¹ and up to approximately 1500 cm⁻¹ sharp vibrational bands are observed, which are assigned by measurement of the dispersed fluorescence spectrum on excitation of each vibrational band. The vibrational energies of the C---Cl stretching modes for the o-, m- and p-chlorotoluene molecules are 341, 378 and 360 cm⁻¹ respectively in the S₁ state.     

Microwave spectrum and rotational isomers of ethyl fluoroformate

The microwave spectrum of ethyl fluoroformate displays strong a-type R branch transitions from two rotameric forms. One species (extended form) has rotational constants A₀ = 9191.3(9) MHz, B₀ = 2112.61(1) MHz, C₀ = 1756.73(1) MHz which are consistent with a syn-anti (τ₁(OCOC) = 0°, r₂(cocc) = 180°) planar heavy atom structure. The second species (compact form) has rotational constants A₀ = 7760(3) MHz, B₀ = 2388.38(4) MHz, C₀ = 2102.47(3) MHz which are consistent with a syn-gauche (τ₁(ococ) = 0°, τ₂(cocc) ˜ 90°) structure. The two conformational forms have approximately equal energy (0 ± 40 cm⁻¹). Four vibrational satellites of the extended species have been analyzed yielding a torsional frequency around the O-ethyl bond of 70(10) cm⁻¹. Three vibrational satellites attributed to the O-ethyl torsion of the compact species have been analyzed yielding a vibrational frequency of 90(10) cm⁻¹. Approximate Fourier coefficients of a three term potential function for internal rotation about the O-ethyl bond have been determined. Vibrational satellites attributed to the first excited states of the O-ester torsion have been analyzed for both conformers. The torsional vibrational frequency around the O-ester bond is 110(15) cm⁻¹ for the extended conformers and 120(20) cm⁻¹ for the compact.     

An ab initio close-coupling calculation of the lower vibrational energies of the HCl dimer

We have previously determined an analytical ab initio six-dimensional potential energy surface for the HCl dimer, and in the present paper we use this potential, with the HCl bond lengths held fixed, in a full (four-dimensional) close-coupling calculation to determine the energies of the lowest 24 vibrational states. These vibrational states involve the intermolecular stretch ν₄, the trans-bend tunneling vibration ν₅, and the torsion ν₆. The highest of the 24 levels is the (ν₄ν₅ν₆)=(111) state, for which we calculate an energy of 200 cm⁻¹ above the (000) state. As well as determining tunneling energies up to 5ν₅=183 cm⁻¹, we determine ν₄=49 cm⁻¹, 2ν₄=93 cm⁻¹, 3ν₄=134 cm⁻¹, 4ν₄=172 cm⁻¹, ν₆=137 cm⁻¹ and ν₄+ν₆=178 cm⁻¹, together with tunneling energies in all these states. Making allowance for the HCl stretching zero-point energy we determine the dissociation energy D₀ as 390 cm⁻¹ on this analytical surface. We determine that below 300 cm⁻¹ there are 72 vibrational (J=K=0) states, and below dissociation there are 162 vibrational (J=K=0) states, for this potential surface.     

Application of transform theory to the resonance Raman spectra of the 1:1 hexamethylbenzene: TCNE electron donor—acceptor complex

The resonance Raman excitation profiles of the 1:1 electron donor—acceptor complex between hexamethylbenzene and tetra-cyanoethylene (TCNE) have been gathered and analyzed using transform theory. Scaling factors and non-Condon factors have been obtained for the excitation profiles of the donor—acceptor stretch at 168 cm⁻¹, the C=C stretch at 1550 cm⁻¹, and the CN stretch at 2223 cm⁻¹, and used to estimate the change in donor—acceptor distance and in TCNE bond lengths in the charge trasfer excited state.     

A new singlet state of Te2

The 4067 Å line of the krypton-ion laser covers two transitions in the BO⁺_u-X O⁺_g system of ¹³⁰Te₂, R(36) in the 16-0 band and R(172) in the 18-0 band. Subsequent fluorescence has been recorded by Fourier transform spectrometry in the range 5900 to 15000 cm⁻¹. Many transitions, with v' in the range 0 to 47, have been assigned to a new system, B O⁺_u-b¹ ∑⁺_g, and vibrational and rotational constants for the new state have been derived. The value of T_e for b ^I∑_g⁺ is about 9600.2 cm⁻¹.     

The pure rotational Raman spectra of cyanogen, C2N2 and C2N2

The pure rotational Raman spectra of C₂¹⁴N₂ and C₂¹⁵N₂ have been recorded photographically using a 3-metre spectrograph with a reciprocal linear dispersion of 1.4 cm⁻¹ mm⁻¹ at 488.0 nm and analysed to give the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants for both species. Corrections were applied to compensate for the effect of molecules in excited vibrational states on the pure rotational spectra. Comparisons are made with previous infrared vibration—rotational studies on these species and with previous Raman studies on C₂¹⁴N₂. The following bond lengths were calculated: r₀(C---N) = 116 ± 1 pm; r₀(C---C) = 138 ± 2 pm.     

Detection of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde in the UV photolysis of gas-phase methyl benzoate

The excitation of gas-phase methyl benzoate at 240 nm leads to the observation of phosphorescence. The dispersed phosphorescence spectrum has an assigned origin of 25 270 cm⁻¹ and a prominent C=O progression of 1720 cm⁻¹, consistent with literature reports of gas-phase benzaldehyde spectroscopy. Weaker bands, which correspond to formaldehyde ν₁₇ and ν₂₅, are also evident. Time-resolved IR diode laser absorption spectroscopy has been used to probe formaldehyde. Excitation of methyl benzoate at 222 nm clearly indicates the generation of formaldehyde as a photoproduct. The temporal profile of the formaldehyde signal is consistent with significant nascent vibrational excitation in this product. The ratio of formaldehyde initially in the ground vibrational state to that in the excited vibrational states is estimated to be 0.6 ± 0.1. The proposed elimination mechanisms are analogous to those postulated for the formation of CO₂ and acetaldehyde from pyruvic acid.     

Vibrational overtone activation of methylcyclopropene

The vibrational overtone spectrum of methylcyclopropene in the region of the 6-0 and 5-0 C---H stretching transitions is reported. Transitions corresponding to the methyl, methylenic and vinyl C---H stretches are assigned. From the Birge-Sponer plots the anharmonicities and mechanical frequencies for the methyl in-plane and out-of-plane C---H stretches are −67.0 and 3118.0 cm⁻¹ and −64.0 and 3071.0 cm⁻¹, respectively. The corresponding values for the methylenic C---H stretches are −60.5 and 3030.7 cm⁻¹. Photolysis at 17093 cm⁻¹ (585 nm) yields two stable products which were identified by gas chromatography. Approximately 60% of the total yield was 2-butyne. A specific rate constant of 1.66×10⁸ s⁻¹ results from the Stern-Volmer analysis of the product yield of 2-butyne.     

Vibrational spectrum of I(H2O)

The infrared spectrum of the ionic cluster I⁻(H₂O) was recorded from 3170 to 3800 cm⁻¹ by vibrational predissociation spectroscopy. A strong multiplet observed at 3415 cm⁻¹ and a narrow band at 3710 cm⁻¹ were assigned as a hydrogen-bonded OH stretch and free OH stretch respectively, indicating that H₂O forms a single hydrogen bond with the iodide anion. Ab initio vibrational frequencies and intensities were computed at the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) level for the minimum energy configuration, a nearly linear hydrogen-bonded isomer, and for a low-lying saddlepoint, a symmetric C_2v bridged isomer. The spectrum predicted for the hydrogen-bonded isomer agreed well with experiment.     

Observation and rovibrational analysis of the ν2 band of HCN–HCl

The high-resolution infrared absorption spectrum of an equilibrium mixture of HCN and HCl in a static gas long-path absorption cell is recorded in the 2500–2900 cm⁻¹ spectral region at 205 K. The spectrum shows rovibrational structure which has the typical appearance of a parallel band of a linear molecule and is assigned to the intramolecular H–Cl stretching vibration band ν₂ of the linear HCN–H³⁵Cl heterodimer. The rovibrational analysis of the band yield a band origin ν₀ of 2779.0968(12) cm⁻¹ together with a value for the upper-state rotational constant B′ of 0.067722(2) cm⁻¹. The observed red shift of 107 cm⁻¹ for the ν₂ band of HCN–H³⁵Cl relative to the H–Cl stretching vibration band of monomer H³⁵Cl is in excellent agreement with results from the MP2/6−311++G** level of theory. The value of the upper-state rotational constant shows that the intermolecular hydrogen bond shortens by 0.022 Å upon intramolecular vibrational excitation of the ν₂ mode.     

Spectroscopic investigation of ground state pyrrole (C4H5N): the NH stretch

We have recorded the infrared absorption spectrum of pyrrole at 0.005 cm⁻¹ spectral resolution using a Fourier transform interferometer. The rotational analysis of the fundamental N---H stretch (1¹₀) at 3530.811343(82) cm⁻¹ was performed. A set of 13 upper state rovibrational parameters was determined, allowing the 2715 assigned rovibrational lines to be reproduced with a standard deviation of 1.3 10⁻³ cm⁻¹. An attempt to record the fundamental band under slit-jet conditions is reported. The role of hot bands accompanying the series of the N---H stretch excitation is investigated. Effective vibrational parameters — ω⁰₁, X⁰₁₁, Y₁₁₁, X_1,24 — are obtained. The lower level in the hot band series is unambiguously identified as the V₂₄ = 1 level, by retrieving X_1,24 independently, from other spectral data. The observation of the complex band pattern accompanying the N---H series in the higher overtone range is discussed with the help of new data, recorded around the 1⁵₀ band at different temperatures using intracavity laser optoacoustic spectroscopy.     

Comparison of the effects of visible femtosecond laser pulses and continuous wave laser radiation of low average intensity on the clonogenicity of Escherichia coli.

To evaluate the contribution of local pulsed heating of light-absorbing microregions to biochemical activity, irradiation of Escherichia coli was carried out using femtosecond laser pulses (λ = 620 nm, τ_p=3 × 10⁻¹³ s, f_p = 0.5 Hz, E_p = 1.1 × 10⁻³J cm⁻², I_av = 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ W cm⁻², I_p = 10⁹ W cm⁻²) and continuous wave (CW) laser radiation (λ = 632.8 nm, I = 1.3 W cm⁻²). The irradiation dose required to produce a similar biological effect (a 160%–190% increase in the clonogenic activity of the irradiated cells compared with the non-irradiated controls) is a factor of about 10³ lower for pulsed radiation than for CW radiation (3.3 × 10⁻¹ and 7.8 × 10² J cm⁻² respectively). The minimum size of the microregions transiently heated on irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses is estimated to be about 10 Å, which corresponds to the size of the chromophores of hypothetical primary photoacceptors—respiratory chain components.     

The simplest heteronuclear metal cluster: LiBe

An electronic transition with an origin near 19203 cm⁻¹ is observed in vapour produced by YAG laser vaporization of a pressed pellet of Li and Be powders and assigned to LiBe diatomic. Vibrational analysis yields a G_1/2″=295 cm⁻¹ and G_1/2′=188 cm⁻¹. A preliminary rotational analysis gives r₀″=2.59 Å and r₀′=3.04 Å. The spectroscopy and the electronic structure are discussed and the experimental molecular constants show a very good agreement with our recent state of the art ab initio calculated values.     

High-order torsional couplings in the infrared spectrum of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene

A 2 MHz resolution electric-resonance optothermal spectrometer and a microwave-sideband CO₂ laser have been used with microwave-infrared double resonance to investigate high-order torsional couplings in the 10 μm infrared spectrum of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene. Three normal mode vibrations are studied with band origins at 963.4, 980.2 and 1025.2 cm⁻¹. The 963.4 cm⁻¹ band is well characterized by an asymmetric-top Hamiltonian, except for the presence of a weak perturbation for J′ = 7, K_a′ = 2 affecting only the A-symmetry internal-rotor state. Microwave-infrared double resonance is used to study the microwave spectrum of the perturbing or ‘dark’ state. The observed dark-state K-doublet asymmetry splittings and rotational-state selection rules indicate that the perturbing state has five quanta of excitation in the torsional mode (ν₂₁) built upon the A″ ν₁₉ fundamental. The precise frequency determined for 5 β₂₁ of 421(2) cm⁻¹ leads to the first accurate determination of the barrier to CF₃ internal rotation as 641(5) cm⁻¹. In contrast to the 963.4 cm⁻¹ vibration, the 980.2 and 1025.2 cm⁻¹ modes show a large number of J′ and K_a′ perturbations which differentially affect the A and E symmetry internal-rotor states. The magnitude of the perturbation-induced A/E splittings indicate that the perturbing states must have at least four quanta of torsional excitation. The present results suggest that high-order vibrational interactions are important in the vibrational dynamics of molecules at low levels of overall vibrational excitation.     

An infrared study of CD3CN in isopropanol, dimethyl formamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide

The vibrational characteristics of deuterated acetonitrile dissolved in isopropanol, dimethyl formamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been studied. Observed vibrational bands show substantial frequency shifts, the amounts of which vary almost linearly with concentration. The absorption feature in the region of 2220–2280 cm⁻¹ was deconvoluted to the consisting absorption bands. The band at 2258 cm⁻¹ of pure CD₃CN, which is on the low frequency side of the monomer CN stretch (ν₂), is attributed to the CN stretch of the dimer (ν′₂). The shoulder found on the further low frequency side of the ν₂ band, particularly in dilute solution, is believed to be due to ν₅, and its frequency and intensity vary largely as a function of concentration along with those of other vibrational bands involved with the CD₃ group. The ν₅ band of pure CD₃CN is believed to be active and located at about 2251 cm⁻¹. Ab initio calculations have also been performed for the solute–solvent complexes, CD₃CN–DMF and CD₃CN–DMSO, at the MP2/6-31+G(2d,p) level assuming anti-parallel configurations. The calculated results show a good agreement with the observed results.     

The A Πu-X Πg emission spectrum of I2

The A ²Π_u-X ²Π_g electronic emission spectrum of I₂⁺ has been recorded at a low rotational temperature in a crossed molecular beam/electron beam apparatus. Six vibrational sequences with five or more members have been assigned to progressions in ν′, giving ω′_e = 122±8 cm⁻¹, but a full vibrational analysis has not been possible. It is not known whether this is due to the relatively poor resolution (≈5 cm⁻¹) at which the spectrum has been recorded or because the A ²Π_u state is perturbed in one or both spin-orbit components. Existing data on the A state of I₂⁺ are reviewed.     

Conformational studies of cyclopropylmethyl isocyanate from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of xenon solutions and ab initio calculations

Variable temperature (−55 to −100 °C) studies of the infrared spectra (3200 to 100 cm⁻¹) of cyclopropylmethyl isocyanate, c-C₃H₅CH₂NCO, dissolved in liquefied xenon, have been carried out. The infrared spectra (gas and solid) as well as the Raman spectrum of the liquid have been recorded from 3200 to 100 cm⁻¹. By analyzing six conformer pairs in xenon solutions, an enthalpy difference of 193 ± 19 cm⁻¹ (2.31 ± 0.23 kJ/mol) was obtained with the gauche–cis rotamer (the first designation indicates the orientation of the CNCO group with respect to the three-membered ring, the second designation indicates the relative orientation of the NCO group with respect to the bridging CC bond) the more stable form and the only form present in polycrystalline solid. The abundance of the cis–trans conformer present at ambient temperature is 16 ± 1%. The potential function governing the conformational interchange has been obtained from B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations and the two-dimensional potential has been obtained. From MP2 ab initio calculations utilizing various basis sets with diffuse functions, the gauche–cis conformer is predicted to be more stable by 223 to 269 cm⁻¹, which is consistent with the experimental results. However, without diffuse functions the predicted conformational energy differences are much smaller (77–166 cm⁻¹). Similar diffuse function dependency affects density functional theory calculations by the B3LYP method to a lesser extent. A complete vibrational assignment for the gauche–cis conformer is proposed and several fundamentals for the cis–trans conformer have been identified. The structural parameters, dipole moments, conformational stability, vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman activities have been predicted from ab initio calculations and r₀ structural parameters are estimated. These experimental and theoretical results are compared to the corresponding quantities of some similar molecules.     

Theoretical studies on the potential energy surface and rovibrational states for the electronic ground state of carbonyl sulfide

A potential energy surface for the electronic ground state of carbonyl sulfide was optimized by using a self-consistent field-configuration interaction method and involving the recent observed vibrational band origins up to 8000 cm⁻¹ for the Σ state. The root mean square error for this refinement was found to be 0.27 cm⁻¹. The calculated quartic force constants from the refined potential are very close to the recent high level ab initio calculations. The vibrational energy levels for the Π and Δ states and for some isotopomers of carbonyl sulfide molecule were calculated to test the refined potential. The calculated energy levels are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

The rovibrational analysis of the high-resolution IR spectrum of CD2HF below 1200 cm: an interacting tetrad of vibrational levels

The spectrum of CD₂HF was measured by high-resolution interferometric Fourier-transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy (apodised instrumental band with:0.004 cm⁻¹ fwhm) between 800 and 1200 cm⁻¹ covering the four lowest fundamentals. A complete rotational analysis using a semi-automatic assignment procedure yields accurate band centres (ν₉: 912.2028 cm⁻¹, ν₆:964.4994 cm⁻¹, ν₅: 1050.5104 cm⁻¹, ν₄: 1093.8632 cm⁻¹) and a complete set of first-order Coriolis coupling constants. The most important couplings occur between ν₉ and ν₆ (ξ_a= 1.069 cm⁻¹, ξ_c= −0.3535 cm⁻¹) and between ν₅ and ν₄ (ξ_b= −0.80606 cm⁻¹). The analysis was guided by and compared with results from our ab initio calculations for Coriolis constants and transition moments using CADPAC at TZP/MP2 level.     

Quantum chemical determination of molecular geometries and interpretation of FTIR and Raman spectra for 2,3,4-and 2,3,6-tri-fluoro-benzonitriles

Raman and FTIR spectra for 2,3,4- and 2,3,6-tri-fluoro-benzonitriles have been recorded in the regions 50–4000 cm⁻¹ and 400–4000 cm⁻¹, respectively. Measurement of depolarization ratios for the Raman lines has also been made. Optimized geometrical parameters, charge distributions and vibrational wavenumbers were calculated using ab initio quantum chemical method. Normal coordinate analysis has also been carried out to help assign the fundamentals of these molecules. Each vibration has been assigned using observed wavenumbers in the IR and Raman spectra and their relative intensities, depolarization ratios of the Raman lines, the calculated frequencies, vector displacements and potential energy distributions (PEDs).