Agapito Serrato

Perfluorobutyric Acid and Its Monohydrate: A Chirped Pulse and Cavity Based Fourier Transform Microwave Spectroscopic Study

Rotational spectra of perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA) and its monohydrate were studied with a broadband chirped pulse and a narrow-band cavity based Fourier transform microwave spectrometer, and high-level ab initio calculations. Extensive conformational searches were performed for both the acid and its monohydrate at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) level of theory. Two and three conformers were predicted to exist for PFBA and its monohydrate, respectively. One set of rotational transitions was observed and assigned for each, PFBA and its monohydrate. Based on the measured broadband spectra, we confidently conclude that only one dominant conformer exists in each case. The orientation of the hydroxyl group in PFBA was determined by using isotopic analysis. Comparison of the observed transition intensities and the calculated electric dipole moment components allowed us to identify the most stable monohydrate conformation, which takes on an insertion hydrogen-bonding topology. Comparisons to the shorter chain analogues, that is, trifluoroacetic acid, perfluoropropionic acid, and their monohydrates, are made to elucidate the general trend in their conformational preference and binding topologies.

A Study of the Monohydrate and Dihydrate Complexes of Perfluoropropionic Acid Using Chirped-Pulse Fourier Transform Microwave (CP-FTMW) Spectroscopy.

This work reports the first known spectroscopic observation of the monohydrate and dihydrate complexes of perfluoropropionic acid (PFPA). The spectra have been observed using a chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave (CP-FTMW) spectrometer in the 7750 to 14,250 MHz region. The structures of the species have been confirmed with the aid of ab initio quantum chemical calculations. Rotational constants A, B, and C have been determined and reported for both species along with centrifugal distortion constants ΔJ, ΔJK, ΔK, δJ, δK for H2O-PFPA and ΔJ, ΔJK, and δJ for (H2O)2-PFPA. Effects due to large amplitude motions were not observable in these experiments. Structures of the complexes have been determined using a combination of experimental second moment values and ab initio results. The complexation of the -OH of one or two water molecules has been found to occur in the plane of the carboxylic acid group forming a six- or eight-member ring.

Microwave measurements of the tropolone-formic acid doubly hydrogen bonded dimer

The microwave spectrum was measured for the doubly hydrogen bonded dimer formed between tropolone and formic acid. The predicted symmetry of this dimer was C2v(M), and it was expected that the concerted proton tunneling motion would be observed. After measuring 25 a- and b-type rotational transitions, no splittings which could be associated with a concerted double proton tunneling motion were observed. The calculated barrier to the proton tunneling motion is near 15,000 cm(-1), which would likely make the tunneling frequencies too small to observe in the microwave spectra. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants determined from the measured transitions were A = 2180.7186(98) MHz, B = 470.873 90(25) MHz, C = 387.689 84(22) MHz, DJ = 0.0100(14) kHz, DJK = 0.102(28) kHz, and DK = 13.2(81) kHz. The B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ calculated rotational constants were within 1% of the experimentally determined values.

THE CP-FTMW SPECTROSCOPY AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE MONO- AND DIHYDRATE COMPLEXES OF PERFLUOROPROPIONIC ACID

G. S. GRUBBS II, Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA; DANIEL A. OBENCHAIN, DEREK S. FRANK, STEWART E. NOVICK, Department of Chemistry, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA; S. A. COOKE, Natural and Social Science, Purchase College SUNY, Purchase, NY, USA; AGAPITO SERRATO III, WEI LIN, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas, Brownsville, TX, USA.