Analysis of the pure-rotational spectrum in the ν28 = 1 excited torsional state and torsional couplings of trans-ethyl methyl ether

The trans-ethyl methyl ether molecule has three low-lying torsional modes, that is, two inequivalent methyl internal rotations and an asymmetric skeletal torsion. The internal rotations of the CCH₃ and OCH₃ methyl rotors and the skeletal torsion correspond to the vibrational modes, ν₂₈, ν₂₉ and ν₃₀ respectively. In this study, the microwave absorption spectrum in the ν₂₈ = 1 CCH₃ torsional state was analyzed for the first time. Nine hundred fifty seven lines up to J = 48 and K = 4 were assigned, and the rotational, centrifugal distortion and internal rotational tunneling parameters were determined with the use of a tunneling matrix formalism. By combining the present results on the ν₂₈ = 1 torsional state with those for the ν₃₀ = 1 skeletal torsional state and the ν₂₉ = 1 OCH₃ torsional state, torsional couplings are estimated in order to understand quantitatively the inverted A/E sequence patterns observed for those three excited torsional states.     

Microwave and sub-mmwave study of CH3SiH3 including the perturbation-allowed torsion-vibration difference band (ν12=0,ν6=3)↔(ν12=1,ν6=0)

The vibration-torsion-rotation Hamiltonian in CH₃SiH₃ has been investigated using Fourier transform microwave methods and tunable sideband far-infrared spectroscopy. Four different studies have been carried out. First, the Q-branch of the torsion-vibration difference band (ν₁₂=0,ν₆=3)↔(ν₁₂=1,ν₆=0) has been measured between 17.8 and 26.6 GHz. When three quanta of the torsional mode ν₆ are excited in the ground vibrational state (gs) for (σ=−1) torsional sublevels with K=6, these transitions become allowed through resonant Coriolis-like coupling to the lowest lying degenerate mode ν₁₂ with no quanta of ν₆ excited. Second, direct l-doubling transitions in the state (v₁₂=1, v₆=0) have been observed between 8.3 and 17.5 GHz for both torsional sublevels σ=0 and σ=±1. In the limit that the intervibrational interactions vanish, the σ-splitting between lines of the same J would be difficult to resolve, but frequency differences of more than 1 GHz due to these interactions have been determined. Third, the (J=1←0) spectrum just below 22 GHz has been re-measured with higher resolution for 0?v₆?4 in the gs and for (v₆=0) in ν₁₂. Finally, the (J=45←44) spectrum near 1 THz has been obtained for 0?v₆?2 in the gs. A global data set of 3423 frequencies has been formed by merging the present 123 measurements with the data set used recently in the simultaneous analysis of the ν₁₂ and ν₅ bands by Schroderus et al. [J. Chem Phys. 115 (2001) 1392]. By refining the (gs/ν₁₂/ν₅) Hamiltonian developed in this earlier work in which the torsional motion is grouped with the vibrational degrees of freedom, a good fit to within experimental error has been obtained by varying 45 parameters. A fit of comparable quality has also been obtained using a similar analysis in which the torsional motion is grouped with the rotational degrees of freedom. The values of the molecular constants determined in the two models are compared.     

Analysis of the rotational spectrum of pyruvonitrile up to 324 GHz

The room-temperature rotational spectrum of pyruvonitrile (acetyl cyanide, CH₃COCN) was measured up to 324 GHz, and additional measurements were also made in supersonic expansion in the region 7-19 GHz. The available data sets for the A and E torsional sublevels were extended to over 1200 transitions, J = 65 and K_a = 38 for the ground vibrational state, and to comparable numbers of transitions for first excited states of the methyl torsional mode ν₁₈, and the in-plane CCN bending mode ν₁₂. The collected experimental measurements were fitted with several different computer programs for dealing with the effects of methyl torsional motion on the rotational spectrum and many spectroscopic constants have been determined. The experimental results are discussed in detail and are augmented by ab initio computations. Stark effect measurements in supersonic expansion were used to precisely determine the electric dipole moment of pyruvonitrile, ∣μ_a∣ = 2.462(2) D, ∣μ_b∣ = 2.442(2) D, μ_tot = 3.468(2) D. Pyruvonitrile, as an 8-atom molecule with a sizable dipole moment, is a possible candidate for astrophysical detection and the present work provides the laboratory data necessary for that purpose.     

Global fit of rotational transitions of methyl formate (HCOOCH3) in the ground and first excited torsional states

The microwave spectrum of methyl formate (HCOOCH₃) has been observed in the frequency range from 7 to 200 GHz. New 348 lines were assigned to E-species in the first excited torsional state. By combining these lines with previously reported data, a global analysis of A- and E-species lines of the ground and first excited torsional states were carried out on the basis of the internal axis method. A total of 3862 transitions were fitted to a Hamiltonian model involving 69 molecular parameters to a weighted unitless standard deviation of 1.96.     

A new joint analysis of the ground and first excited torsional states of methylformate

A global fit within experimental accuracy of microwave rotational transitions in the ground and first excited torsional states (v_t = 0 and 1) of methylformate (HCOOCH₃) is reported, which combines older measurements from the literature with new measurements from Kharkov. In this study the so-called ‘‘rho axis method’’ that treats simultaneously both A and E species of the ground and first excited torsional states is used. The final fit requires 55 parameters to achieve an overall unitless weighted standard deviation of 0.71 for a total of 10533 transitions (corresponding to 9298 measured lines) with rotational quantum numbers up to J ? 62 and K_a ? 26 in the ground state and J ? 35 and K_a ? 23 in the first excited torsional state. These results represent a significant improvement over past fitting attempts, providing for the first time a fit within experimental accuracy of both ground and first excited torsional states.     

Fourier transform spectroscopy of the CO-stretching band of O-18 methanol

The high-resolution Fourier transform spectrum of the ν₈ CO-stretching band of CH₃¹⁸OH between 900 and 1100 cm⁻¹ has been recorded at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron facility in Saskatoon, and the majority of the torsion-rotation structure has been analyzed. For the ν_t = 0 torsional ground state, subbands have been identified for K values from 0 to 11 for A and E torsional symmetries up to J values typically well over 30. For ν_t = 1, A and E subbands have been assigned up to K = 7, and several ν_t = 2 subbands have also been identified. Upper-state term values determined from the assigned transitions using the Ritz program have been fitted to J(J + 1) power-series expansions to obtain substate origins and sets of state-specific parameters giving a compact representation of the substate J-dependence. The ν_t = 0 subband origins have been fitted to effective molecular constants for the excited CO-stretching state and a torsional barrier of 377.49(32) cm⁻¹ is found, representing a 0.89% increase over the ground-state value. The vibrational energy for the CO-stretch state was found to be 1007.49(7) cm⁻¹. A number of subband-wide and J-localized perturbations have been seen in the spectrum, arising both from anharmonic and Coriolis interactions, and several of the interacting states have been identified.     

The lowest frequency vibrational fundamental of disilane: A three-band analysis

The lowest frequency perpendicular fundamental band ν₉ of disilane has been analyzed to investigate torsion mediated vibrational interactions. We report here a three-band analysis involving torsional levels built on the ground state, the ν₉ vibrational fundamental, and ν₃ fundamental. This analysis includes transitions from the far-infrared torsional bands, ν₄, 2ν₄ − ν₄, 3ν₄ − 2ν₄, two perturbation-allowed rotational series from the overtone band 3ν₄ and transitions restricted to −21 ? kΔk ? 21 in the ν₉ fundamental band. An excellent fit to the included data was obtained. Two interactions are identified in this fit, a resonant Coriolis interaction between the ν₉ torsional stack and that of the ground vibrational state and a Fermi interaction between the ν₃ fundamental and the gs. The introduction of the Fermi interaction causes a large change in the barrier height for the ground vibrational state and makes the barrier shape parameter redundant, indicating that the vibrational contributions to the experimental barrier shape are dominant. Such effects have also been observed for ethane and other similar molecules.     

Global fit analysis including the ν9 + ν4 − ν4 hot band of ethane: Evidence of an interaction with the ν12 fundamental

The ν₉ fundamental band of ethane occurs in the 12 μm region. It is the strongest band of ethane in a terrestrial window and is commonly used for the identification of ethane in the Jovian planets. The ν₉ + ν₄ − ν₄ band occurs in the same region; neither can be analysed as an isolated band, since both are embedded in the torsional bath of the ground vibrational state. We report here two global fit models including data from both of these bands as well as the ν₃ fundamental and the ν₄, 2ν₄ − ν₄, and 3ν₄ torsional transitions. The first is restricted to −5 ? KΔK ? 15 in the hot band and gives an excellent fit to the included data. Three resonant interactions are identified in this fit—a Coriolis interaction with two resonant cases between the ν₉ torsional stack and that of the ground vibrational state (gs) and a resonant Fermi interaction between the ν₃ fundamental and the gs. Hot band lines with KΔK < −5 are influenced by a fourth perturbation, with a crossing at −11 < KΔK < −10, which has been attributed to an interaction with the ν₁₂ fundamental. A second fit, demonstrating a promising treatment of this interaction, is also presented.     

Microwave spectrum of chloromethyl methyl ether

The microwave spectrum of chloromethyl methyl ether has been studied in the region 12.4–40 GHz. For ³⁵Cl species, a- and c-type transitions have been assigned for the ground state, the first excited state of the chloromethyl torsional mode, and the first excited state of the methyl torsional mode. Assignments were also made for the ground state of ³⁷Cl species. The assigned transitions are due to the gauche conformer. The nuclear quadrupole coupling constants were determined for the ground state of ³⁵Cl and ³⁷Cl species. The observed A-E splittings of the rotational transitions arising from the three vibrational states indicate a strong coupling between the two torsional vibrations. A model calculation based on the Hamiltonian previously used by Butcher and Wilson (J. Chem. Phys.40, 1671 (1964)), was carried out to account for the splittings and the vibrational frequencies of the two torsional modes. The barrier to internal rotation of the methyl group is estimated to be V₃ = 647 ± 17 cm^?1 (1.84 ± 0.05 kcal/mole).     

Accurate rotational spectroscopy of sulfur dioxide, SO2, in its ground vibrational and first excited bending states, v2 = 0, 1, up to 2 THz

Approximately 150 pure rotational transitions each have been recorded for SO₂, v₂ = 0 and 1, in selected frequency regions up to 2 THz. The J and K_a quantum numbers reach very high values: 92 and 23, respectively, for the ground vibrational state and 81 and 21, respectively, for the first excited bending state. The highest levels accessed are almost 3000 cm⁻¹ above ground. The relative experimental uncertainties Δν/ν are about 10⁻⁸ for several medium to strong, isolated lines, and generally better than 2.5 × 10⁻⁷. Improved spectroscopic parameters have been obtained for both states, particularly for the excited bending state. In fact, the accuracies with which the energy levels of the v₂ = 1 state are known depend essentially only on the accuracy with which the vibrational spacing is known from infrared spectroscopy.     

Microwave spectrum of trans 3-fluorophenol in excited torsional states

The microwave rotational spectra of the trans conformer of 3-fluorophenol have been observed in excited torsional states and analyzed in the frequency range 12.0-43.0 GHz using conventional microwave and Radio-Frequency Microwave Double Resonance (RFMWDR) techniques. Analysis of the ground torsional state spectrum has been extended to higher rotational states. Least-squares analysis of three sets of rotational transitions yield rotational and centrifugal distortion constants for the ground and first two excited torsional states. A nonlinear behavior of the variation of inertial defect with the torsional quantum number was observed.     

The rotational spectrum of chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) in the four lowest nν9 polyads

The analysis of the recently recorded 78-378 GHz broadband spectrum of ClONO₂ has been extended to cover rotational transitions in all 14 excited vibrational states up to 650 cm⁻¹ above the ground state. We report new measurements and analysis of the 2ν₉ and 3ν₉ dyads, and first assignment and analysis for the 4ν₉ and 5ν₉ triads. The polyad fits encompass a total of over 20 000 newly measured transition frequencies and spectroscopic constants are reported for 10 vibrationally excited states in each of ³⁵ClONO₂ and ³⁷ClONO₂. All polyads were fitted with a new coupling scheme between the perturbing states combining c-axis Coriolis and Fermi interactions. The scheme is validated by multiple tests of the physical significance of the derived parameters and it results in improved deviations of fits and significant reduction in the number of adjustable parameters.     

Microwave spectrum and structure of furfural

The microwave spectrum of furfural was investigated in the frequency range 7 GHz-21 GHz and 49 GHz-330 GHz. The ground and first torsional state of trans-furfural and ground state of cis-furfural were assigned and analyzed. A total of 1720 rotational lines with J up to 100 and K_a up to 53 were assigned to the ground state of trans-furfural, 1406 rotational lines with J up to 100 and K_a up to 48 were assigned to the first torsional state of trans-furfural and 2103 rotational lines with J up to 90 and K_a up to 48 to the ground state of cis-furfural. Accurate sets of centrifugal distortion constants for both conformations have been determined for the first time. The spectra of all ¹³C and ¹⁸O singly substituted isotopic species were observed in natural abundance in the 7 GHz-21 GHz range. Molecular structure co-ordinates, bond lengths and angles of the Kraitchman substitution type (r_s) and pseudo-Kraitchman type (r_pKr) are derived from the isotopic studies.     

Analysis of microwave and infrared transitions of phenol by rotation-internal rotation theory. Phenol-OD

Rotational transitions of the torsional ground and first excited state of phenol-OD have been measured in the frequency range 8–40 GHz. In a semi-rigid model approach to the internal rotation, kinetic and potential constants have been fitted to the far-infrared torsional frequencies and the microwave transition frequencies for the ground and the excited state separately. It is further shown that an acceptable agreement between observed and calculated spectra has simultaneously been obtained for the torsional ground and first excited state using the contravariant kinetic coefficients g^mn as fitting parameters.     

Torsional splittings in the diode laser slit-jet spectra of the ν6 fundamental of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b)

High resolution infrared spectra (0.001 cm⁻¹ FWHM) have been measured for mixtures of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane in Ne, expanded in a supersonic planar jet. The ν₆ fundamental, infrared active with a dominant parallel transition moment, exhibits a remarkable splitting of about 0.035 cm⁻¹ for both ³⁵Cl and ³⁷Cl isotopomers. Several mechanisms of interaction of ν₆ with states with high torsional excitation are critically examined to explain the observed effect. It is concluded that the observed torsional splitting patterns can be explained in terms of a torsional Coriolis interaction between ν₆ and a highly excited torsional mode, 6ν₁₈. A full numerical analysis, performed including a torsional Coriolis term in the Hamiltonian, shows that the interaction mechanism requires a torsional barrier height of about 1270 cm⁻¹.     

Rotational spectrum and structure of asymmetric dinitrogen trioxide, N2O3

The rotational spectra of the ground vibrational state and the ν₉ = 1 torsional state have been reinvestigated and accurate spectroscopic constants have been determined. The torsional frequency, ν₉ = 70(15) cm⁻¹, has been determined by relative intensity measurements. The assignment of the infrared spectrum has been slightly revised and an accurate harmonic force field has been calculated. The equilibrium structure has been determined using different, complementary methods: experimental, semi-experimental and ab initio, leading to r(NN) = 1.870(2) Å, in particular.     

High resolution Fourier transform infrared spectra and analysis of the ν14, ν15 and ν16 bands of azetidine

Rotationally resolved vibrational spectra of the three lowest frequency bands of the four-membered heterocycle azetidine (c-C₃H₆NH) have been collected with a resolution of 0.00096 cm⁻¹ using the far infrared beamline at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron. The modes observed correspond principally to motions best described as: β-CH₂ rock (ν₁₄) at 736.701310(7) cm⁻¹, ring deformation (ν₁₅) at 648.116041(8) cm⁻¹, and the ring puckering mode (ν₁₆) at 207.727053(9) cm⁻¹. A global fit of 14 276 rovibrational transitions from the three bands provided an accurate set of ground state spectroscopic constants as well as excited state parameters for each of the three vibrational modes. The ground state structure was determined to be that of the puckered conformer having the NH bond in an equatorial arrangement.     

New assignments, line intensities, and HITRAN database for CH3OH at 10 μm

The Fourier transform spectrum of CH₃OH in the 10 μm region has been re-examined at higher pressure and path length than heretofore, as part of a program to provide comprehensive CH₃OH spectral data for astrophysical and atmospheric applications. With the increase in spectral sensitivity, it has been possible to assign new torsionally excited ν₁₂=1 and ν₁₂=2 subbands plus further high-K, ν₁₂=0 subbands of the ν₈ CO-stretching band. Upper-state term values have been determined, and have been fitted to J(J+1) power-series expansions in order to obtain the excited ν₈ substate origins. A variety of weaker subbands from other modes has also been identified in the 10 μm spectrum including ν₁₂=0, ν₁₂=1, and ν₁₂=0←1 torsional subbands of the ν₇ in-plane CH₃ rock, ν₁₂=0←1 and ν₁₂=0←2 torsional combination subbands of the ν₆ OH bend, and ν₁₂=0←2 subbands of the ν₅ symmetric CH₃ bend. Line intensities have been retrieved line-by-line from the spectra. A large set of “unperturbed” ν₈ transitions has been modeled using the same type of multi-parameter effective Hamiltonian employed successfully for the ground state, with inclusion of the intensities of a subset of the stronger ν₈ spectral lines in the fitting in order to obtain appropriate transition dipole terms. Together, a 10 μm methanol database in HITRAN format has been generated.     

High-resolution infrared spectra of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane

Infrared spectra of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (C₅H₈) have been recorded at a resolution (0.0015 cm⁻¹) sufficient to resolve for the first time individual rovibrational lines. This initial report presents the ground state constants for this molecule determined from the detailed analysis of three of the ten infrared-allowed bands, ν₁₄(e′) at 540 cm⁻¹, ν₁₇ (a₂″) at 1220 cm⁻¹, ν₁₈(a₂″) at 832 cm⁻¹, and a partial analysis of the ν₁₁(e′) band at 1237 cm⁻¹. The upper states of transitions involving the lowest frequency mode, ν₁₄(e′), show no evidence of rovibrational perturbations but those for the ν₁₇ and ν₁₈ (a₂″) modes give clear indication of Coriolis coupling to nearby e′ levels. Accordingly, ground state constants were determined by use of the combination-difference method for all three bands. The assigned frequencies provided over 3300 consistent ground state difference values, yielding the following constants for the ground state (in units of cm⁻¹): B₀ = 0.2399412(2), D_J = 6.024(6) × 10⁻⁸, D_JK = −1.930(21) × 10⁻⁸. For the unperturbed ν₁₄(e′) fundamental, more than 3500 transitions were analyzed and the band origin was found to be at 540.34225(2) cm⁻¹. The numbers in parentheses are the uncertainties (two standard deviations) in the values of the constants. The results are compared with those obtained previously for [1.1.1]propellane and with those computed at the ab initio anharmonic level using the B3LYP density functional method with a cc-pVTZ basis set.     

The symmetric amino-wagging band of hydrazine: Assignment and analysis

For the first time a weak fundamental symmetric amino-wagging band, ν₆, was assigned in the high-resolution Fourier-transform infrared spectrum of hydrazine. The analysis of the Fermi-type resonance between the ν₆ and the third excited torsional state, 3ν₇, is presented. A global fitting was carried out taking into account 3392 lines of the ν₆ band (for K′ from 0 to 10 and for all symmetry species) and 428 lines of the 3ν₇ band (for K′ from 3 to 9 and only for the symmetry species in resonance). For all 3820 rovibrational transitions the overall standard deviation of the fit of 0.019 cm⁻¹ was obtained. The band centers of the symmetric wagging state and the third torsional were determined at 795.137 and 860.138 cm⁻¹, respectively. Individual fits were also carried out for K′ from 3 to 8 for all symmetry species with much improved standard deviations. The effective group-theoretical Hamiltonian for the coupling between inversion and torsion states was used.