A theoretical investigation of C5

Large-scale CEPA-1 calculations have been carried out for linear C₅, a molecule of substantial interest to combustion processes and astrochemistry. The equilibrium bond lengths are predicted to be 1.289 Å (outer CC bond) and 1.283 Å (inner CC bond), with an accuracy of 0.002 Å. The calculated ν₃ band origins of 2161 cm⁻¹ (105 CGTO basis) and 2137 cm⁻¹ (150 CGTO basis) are in good agreement with the experimental value of 2169 cm⁻¹. This band has an extremely large transition moment of 0.74 D. The less intense stretching fundamental ν₄ (μ=0.18 D) is predicted to occur at 1478 ± 10 cm⁻¹. Predictions for the totally symmetric stretching and the bending vibrational frequencies (in cm⁻¹) are 2008 (1σ_g⁺), 792 (2σ_g⁺), 570 (1π_u), 209 (1π_g) and 119 (2π_u).