Alessandro Baldan

Rotational spectra of rare isotopic species of fluoroiodomethane: determination of the equilibrium structure from rotational spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations.

Supported by accurate quantum-chemical calculations, the rotational spectra of the mono- and bi-deuterated species of fluoroiodomethane, CHDFI and CD(2)FI, as well as of the (13)C-containing species, (13)CH(2)FI, were recorded for the first time. Three different spectrometers were employed, a Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer, a millimeter/submillimter-wave spectrometer, and a THz spectrometer, thus allowing to record a huge portion of the rotational spectrum, from 5 GHz up to 1.05 THz, and to accurately determine the ground-state rotational and centrifugal-distortion constants. Sub-Doppler measurements allowed to resolve the hyperfine structure of the rotational spectrum and to determine the complete iodine quadrupole-coupling tensor as well as the diagonal elements of the iodine spin-rotation tensor. The present investigation of rare isotopic species of CH(2)FI together with the results previously obtained for the main isotopologue [C. Puzzarini, G. Cazzoli, J. C. López, J. L. Alonso, A. Baldacci, A. Baldan, S. Stopkowicz, L. Cheng, and J. Gauss, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 174312 (2011); G. Cazzoli, A. Baldacci, A. Baldan, and C. Puzzarini, Mol. Phys. 109, 2245 (2011)] enabled us to derive a semi-experimental equilibrium structure for fluoroiodomethane by means of a least-squares fit procedure using the available experimental ground-state rotational constants together with computed vibrational corrections. Problems related to the missing isotopic substitution of fluorine and iodine were overcome thanks to the availability of an accurate theoretical equilibrium geometry (computed at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles level augmented by a perturbative treatment of triple excitations).

Spectroscopic investigation of fluoroiodomethane, CH2FI: Fourier-transform microwave and millimeter-/submillimeter-wave spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations

Guided by theoretical predictions, the rotational spectrum of fluoroiodomethane, CH(2)FI, has been recorded and assigned. Accurate values are reported for the ground-state rotational constants, all quartic, sextic, and two octic centrifugal-distortion constants. The hyperfine structure of the rotational spectrum was thoroughly investigated using a Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer and the Lamb-dip technique in the millimeter-/submillimeter-wave region, thus allowing the accurate determination of the complete iodine quadrupole-coupling tensor and of the diagonal elements of the iodine spin-rotation tensor. Relativistic effects turned out to be essential for the accurate theoretical prediction of the dipole moment and quadrupole-coupling constants and were accounted for by direct perturbation theory and a spin-free four-component treatment based on the Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian. The relativistic corrections to the dipole moment amount to up to 34% and to the iodine quadrupole-coupling tensor to about 15-16% of the total values.

Microwave, High-Resolution Infrared, and Quantum Chemical Investigations of CHBrF2: Ground and v4 = 1 States

A combined microwave, infrared, and computational investigation of CHBrF(2) is reported. For the vibrational ground state, measurements in the millimeter- and sub-millimeter-wave regions for CH(79)BrF(2) and CH(81)BrF(2) provided rotational and centrifugal-distortion constants up to the sextic terms as well as the hyperfine parameters (quadrupole-coupling and spin-rotation interaction constants) of the bromine nucleus. The determination of the latter was made possible by recording of spectra at sub-Doppler resolution, achieved by means of the Lamb-dip technique, and supporting the spectra analysis by high-level quantum chemical calculations at the coupled-cluster level. In this context, the importance of relativistic effects, which are of the order of 6.5% and included in the present work using second-order direct perturbation theory, needs to be emphasized for accurate predictions of the bromine quadrupole-coupling constants. The infrared measurements focused on the ν(4) fundamental band of CH(79)BrF(2). Fourier transform investigations using a synchrotron radiation source provided the necessary resolution for the observation and analysis of the rotational structure. The spectroscopic parameters of the v(4) = 1 state were found to be close to those of the vibrational ground state, indicating that the ν(4) band is essentially unaffected by perturbations.

Rotational spectra of rare isotopic species of bromofluoromethane: determination of the equilibrium structure from ab initio calculations and microwave spectroscopy.

Guided by theoretical predictions, the rotational spectra of the mono- and bideuterated species of bromofluoromethane, CDH(79)BrF, CDH(81)BrF, CD(2) (79)BrF, and CD(2) (81)BrF, have been recorded for the first time. Assignment of a few hundred rotational transitions led to the accurate determination of the ground-state rotational constants, all of the quartic and most of the sextic centrifugal distortion constants, as well as the full bromine quadrupole-coupling tensor for both (79)Br and (81)Br, in good agreement with corresponding theoretical predictions based on high-level coupled-cluster calculations. The rotational spectra of the (13)C containing species (13)CH(2) (79)BrF and (13)CH(2) (81)BrF have been observed in natural abundance and have been assigned, thus allowing the determination of the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants as well as the bromine quadrupole-coupling tensor. Furthermore, empirical equilibrium structures have been obtained within a least-squares fit procedure using the available experimental ground-state rotational constants for various isotopic species. Vibrational effects have been accounted for in the analysis using vibration-rotation interaction constants derived from anharmonic force fields computed at the second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory as well as coupled-cluster (CC) levels. The empirical equilibrium geometries obtained in this way agree well with the corresponding theoretical predictions obtained from CC calculations [at the CCSD(T) level] after extrapolation to the complete basis set limit and inclusion of core-valence correlation corrections and relativistic effects.

Spectroscopic study of CHBrF2 up to 9500 cm−1: Vibrational analysis, integrated band intensities, and ab initio calculations

The gas-phase infrared spectra of bromodifluoromethane, CHBrF(2), have been examined at medium resolution in the range of 200-9500 cm(-1). The assignment of the absorptions in terms of fundamental, overtone, combination, and hot bands, assisted by quantum chemical calculations is consistent all over the region investigated. Accurate values of integrated band intensities have also been determined for the first time in the range of 500-6000 cm(-1). Structural and molecular spectroscopic properties have been calculated at high level of theory. The coupled cluster CCSD(T) method in conjunction with a hierarchical series of correlation consistent basis sets has been employed and extrapolation to complete basis set has been considered for the equilibrium geometry. Vibrational analysis based on the second order perturbation theory has been carried out with the ab initio anharmonic force constants calculated using the second order Moller-Plesset perturbation as well as coupled cluster [CCSD(T)] theory. A good agreement between the computed and the experimental data also including the integrated infrared band intensities has been obtained.

The infrared spectrum of 13C2HD between 100 and 2100 cm−1: a global fit for the bending states up to υ 4 + υ 5 = 3

The fundamental bending ro-vibrational bands and a number of overtone, combination and hot bands of 13C2HD have been recorded by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the range 450–2100 cm−1. In addition, the ν 5 ← ν 4 band, centred at 164.65 cm−1, has been identified in the spectrum of 13C2H2. The data were analysed simultaneously in a global fit that has provided very accurate rotational and vibrational parameters for the ground and vibrationally excited states.

Infrared spectrum and anharmonic force field of CH2DBr

The gas-phase infrared spectrum of monodeuteromethyl bromide, CH2DBr, has been examined at medium resolution in the range 400-10000 cm(-1), leading to the identification of 70 vibrational transitions. The assignment of the absorptions in terms of fundamentals, overtones, combinations, and hot bands, assisted by quantum chemical calculations, is consistent all over the region investigated. The (79/81)Br isotopic splitting for the lowest fundamental nu6 and the value for the v8 = 1 level have been now precisely determined. Anharmonic resonances are very marginal for all fundamentals and the Coriolis interaction effects are clearly evident in the nu4/nu8 band system, in the nu2 and nu7 fundamentals. Spectroscopic parameters, obtained from the analysis of partially resolved rotational structure, have been derived in the symmetric tops limit approximation. High-quality ab initio calculations have been performed, and harmonic and anharmonic force fields have been predicted from coupled cluster CCSD(T) calculations employing the cc-pVTZ basis set. A good agreement between computed and experimental data, also including the C-H stretching overtones at 6000 and 9000 cm(-1), has been obtained.

Efficient Microscale Preparation of Isotopically Enriched 1‐[79Br]Bromo‐2‐Fluoroethylene, [79Br]BrHC˭CHF

Abstract An efficient preparation of 1‐[79Br]bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene, [79Br]BrHC˭CHF, was carried out by a three‐step procedure: (a) natural 1‐bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene, BrHC˭CHF, was iodinated to 1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethylene, FHC˭CHI; (b) 1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethylene was 79Br2‐brominated to 1,2‐di[79Br]bromo‐1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethane, [79Br]BrFCHCH[79Br]BrI; and (c) 1,2‐di[79Br]bromo‐1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethane was dehalogenated to 1‐[79Br]bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene, [79Br]BrHC˭CHF. The yield of isolated product, on a 2‐mmol scale, was 62% with respect to 79Br2.

Theoretical molecular structure and experimental dipole moment of cis-1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene

The equilibrium geometry of cis-1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene has been evaluated using two different ab initio methods: the coupled-cluster (CC) approach and Moller–Plesset perturbation theory. Accurate predictions have been obtained. Using both methods, the dipole moment has been estimated numerically as energy derivative with respect to an applied electric field at zero field strength. The experimental dipole moment of cis-1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene has been determined by observing the Stark spectrum of the J=40,4←31,3 and J=41,3←40,4 transitions. The spectrum profile has been fitted to a model function computed as a sum of Lorentzian profiles over the hyperfine-Stark components, whose frequencies have been derived by diagonalizing the full rotational–quadrupole-Stark Hamiltonian matrix for each value of the applied electric field. Very good agreement between experimental and theoretical dipole moment has been obtained.

Microscale Preparation of Isotopically Enriched 37ClHC˭CHF

Abstract Chlorination of 1‐bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene followed by reductive dehalogenation of the produced 1‐bromo‐1,2‐dichloro‐2‐fluoroethane selectively affords 1‐chloro‐2‐fluoroethylene. This process is suitable to produce 37Cl isotopically enriched ClHC˭CHF on a convenient scale (3.8 mmol).