Conformations and vibrational spectra of allyl isocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate

The infrared spectra of allyl isocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate as vapours and liquids were recorded in the region 4000-50 cm^?1. Additional spectra of the amorphous and crystalline solids at ?180°C were recorded between 4000 and 400 cm^?1. p]Raman spectra, including semiquantitative polarization measurements were obtained of the liquids, and spectra of the unannealed as well as of the crystalline solids at ?180°C were recorded.A considerable simplification of the vibrational spectra of the crystals compared to the liquids was observed as a consequence of the conformational equilibria in these compounds. It can be concluded with confidence that a cis conformation of the allyl group was present in the crystals of both compounds with additional gauche conformers in the liquids. No definite conclusions can be reached regarding the conformational arrangement of the -NCX groups. A remarkable similarity was observed between the spectra of the two compounds, and all the fundamental frequencies except the lowest C-N torsion have been assigned for the cis conformers. More than ten fundamentals for the gauche conformers have also been assigned.