Force constants,vibrational assignment and geometry of methyl amine from hartree—fock calculations

The force constants and geometry of CH₃NH₂ have been calculated from Hartree—Fock wave-functions by the force method, using a 73/3/1 Gaussian basis set. The fundamental frequencies obtained from the ab initio force constants corroborate the assignment of Gray and Lord except for the uncertain A″ NH₂ twisting and CH₃ rocking frequencies. The results indicate that the 1335 cm^?1 band in CH₃NH₂ is v₁₃, the antisymmetric combination of these modes, and that their symmetric combination, v₁₄, is located between 880 and 1000 cm^?1. The calculations reproduce the experimentally observed tilting of the CH₃ group toward the lone pair on nitrogen.