Raman study of ratational diffusion in methyl iodide

The usefulness of Raman and NMR spin relaxation spectroscopic methods in probing the details of molecular motions in liquids is demonstrated in a study of methyl iodide. Analysis of the lineshape of the ν₃ Raman band of methyl iodide as a function of temperature yields values of the perpendicular component D_⊥ of the diffusion tensor D_i and an activation energy of reorientation perpendicular to the C₃ axis of the molecule of 2.1 kcal/mole. Coupling the Raman data with ²D NMR spin relaxation data yields values of D_| and an activation energy for reorientation about the C₃ axis of 0.4 kcal/mole indicating quasi-free rotation for this motion. Thus the reorientational motions of methyl iodide are shown to be highly anisotropic in the liquid state.