Asymmetric torsional potential function and conformational analysis of furfural by far infrared and Raman spectroscopy

The far i.r. (400-50 cm⁻¹) spectra of gaseous and solid furfural (2-furancarboxaldehyde), c-C₄H₃O (CHO), have been recorded. Additionally, the Raman (3500-20 cm⁻¹) spectra of the gas and liquid have been obtained at variable temperatures and the spectrum of the solid at 25 K. These data have been interpreted on the basis that the molecule exists in two different conformations in the fluid states and that the conformation which has the two oxygen atoms oriented in a trans configuration, OO-trans, is most stable (ΔH ⩽ 1 kcal/mol) in the gas; however, the conformation which has the two oxygen atoms oriented cis, OO-cis, is preferred in the liquid (ΔH = 1.07 ± 0.03 kcal/mol) and is the only rotamer present in the spectra of the solid. The asymmetric torsional fundamental for the OO-trans rotamer has been observed at 146.25 cm⁻¹ in the far i.r. spectrum of the vapor and has five accompanying “hot bands”. The corresponding fundamental for the OO-cis rotamer has been observed at 127.86 cm⁻¹ along with a “hot band” which occurs at 127.46 cm⁻¹. From these data a cosine-based potential function governing internal rotation of the CHO top has been determined and the potential coefficients have values of V₁ = 173 ± 2, V₂ = 3112 ± 20, V₃ = 113 ± 2 and V₄ = −198 ± 6 cm⁻¹. This potential is consistent with an enthalpy difference between the more stable OO-trans and high energy OO-cis conformers being 286 ± 24 cm⁻¹ (818 ± 67 cal/mol) and a trans to cis barrier height of 3255 ± 20 cm⁻¹ (9.31 ± 0.06 kcal/mol). These results are compared to the corresponding quantities obtained previously from microwave spectroscopy and theoretical methods.