On the effect of molecular structure on the superposition of normal modes of vibration

The normal modes of vibration in cartesian coordinates were calculated for ethylene, C₂H₄, and an ethylene complex, C₂H₄-Tl³⁺-H₂O, which is presumably formed during the catalytic oxidation of C₂H₄. For the CC bond of C₂H₄ as the critical coordinate of this reaction the distortions were then calculated which are caused by superimposing the normal modes. These calculations indicate that the maximum distortion of the CC bond which is attainable by superimposing normal modes in their ground state is larger in some conformations of the complex than in the free molecule. This indicates the general possibility that, depending on proper symmetry, complex formation may increase the reactivity of a compound because, compared to the free molecule, the superposition of a greater number of 3N-6 normal modes can produce greater momentary distortions of internal coordinates. The effect could be of considerable importance for the reactivity of very large systems, like, e.g., enzyme-substrate complexes.