Vibrational analysis of n-butyl, n-pentyl,and n-hexyl fluorides

Infrared spectra were obtained for n-butyl, n-pentyl, and n-hexyl fluorides in the liquid and solid states, and liquid-state Raman spectra were obtained for the first two of these. Normal coordinate calculations were carried out and twenty force constants of the C-CH₂F group were refined to provide the best fit for the 114 assigned frequencies of trans-n-propyl, gauche-n-propyl, TT-n-butyl, and TG-n-butyl fluorides. The resulting force constants were used to calculate the frequencies of the GT- and GG conformations of n-butyl fluoride and the two conformations for each of n-pentyl and n-hexyl fluoride that have coplanar carbon chains. The presence of all four conformers of n-butyl fluoride in the liquid state is indicated, but only the TG-conformer is present in the solid. The existence of the two conformations of n-pentyl and n-hexyl fluorides for which calculations were made is supported by comparison of the observed and calculated frequencies. Additional conformations seem to be present. The simplest solid-state spectrum is due only to the conformer that has a coplanar chain of carbons and the fluorine atom in the gauche position. Previous tentative conclusions about the relation between C-F stretching frequency and configuration have been revised.