The Microwave Spectrum of m-Tolunitrile: Methyl Internal Rotation and N Nuclear Quadrupole Coupling

The microwave spectrum of m-tolunitrile (3-methylbenzonitrile, m-C₆H₄CH₃CN) has been investigated in the frequency range from 1 to 4 and 8 to 26.5 GHz. The spectra in the two lowest states of internal methyl rotation (m = 0, ±1) were recorded by means of pulsed molecular beam Fourier transform microwave (MB-FTMW) spectrometers. The interpretation of the spectra was based on an asymmetric frame–symmetric top Hamiltonian with inclusion of centrifugal distortion terms and first-order contributions from ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling. A least-squares analysis yielded the rotational constants A = 3295.9103(10) MHz, B = 1199.1188(2) MHz, C = 883.9223(1) MHz, all elements of the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor χ_aa = −3.626(1) MHz, χ_bb = 1.684(1) MHz, χ_cc = 1.943(1) MHz, and χ_ab = −1.870(3) MHz, as well as the threefold barrier to internal rotation, V₃ = 14.2 cm⁻¹, and the angle between the internal rotor axis and the principal moment of inertia a axis, θ = 42.66°, using fixed values for the sixfold barrier term V₆ (−11 cm⁻¹) and the moment of inertia of the methyl top I_α (3.16 u Ų).