Stephen A. Cooke

A search accelerated correct intensity Fourier transform microwave spectrometer with pulsed laser ablation source

The ablation of metal surfaces in the presence of a precursor gas produces reaction products which are often difficult to predict and highly dependent on ablation conditions. This article describes the successful development and implementation of a laser ablation source-equipped Fourier transform microwave spectrometer capable of observing 4 GHz regions of spectra in a single data acquisition event. The dramatically increased speed with which regions may be searched, when compared to other high resolution microwave techniques, allows the source conditions to be the prime variable in laser ablation microwave spectroscopic studies. A second feature of the technique is that observed spectral features have correct relative intensities. This is advantageous when assigning observed spectra. The study of two metal chlorides, AgCl and AuCl, illustrate the instruments benefits.

Some geometric and electronic structural effects of perfluorinating propionyl chloride.

Propionyl chloride and perfluoropropionyl chloride have been characterized using chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy between the frequency range of 8 and 14 GHz. Molecules were studied in separate experiments in supersonic expansions of argon. The (35)Cl, (37)Cl, and each of the monoisotopic (13)C substituted isotopologues of propionyl chloride were observed. The (35)Cl and (37)Cl isotopologues of perfluoropropionyl chloride were observed. Analyses of the resulting microwave spectra have yielded spectroscopic constants for the target molecules. The analyses indicate that, under the conditions of these experiments, both molecules are only detectable as cis conformers in which angleCCCO = 0 degrees . Comparisons are made between the electronic and geometric structure of propionyl chloride and perfluoropropionyl chloride, and also other acyl chlorides. The data produced are relevant in regards to quantifying the known destabilizing effect of perfluoroalky chains on carbonyl groups. Distinct differences in electronegativity between the CH(3)CH(2)CO- and CF(3)CF(2)CO- groups are discussed. Methyl group internal rotation is observed for propionyl chloride and has been analyzed to produce a V(3) barrier height.

The Complete Iodine and Nitrogen Nuclear Electric Quadrupole Coupling Tensors for Fluoroiodoacetonitrile Determined by Chirped Pulse Fourier Transform Microwave Spectroscopy

Molecular pulsed jet, chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy has been used to record 499 transitions for the title molecule. Measurements have been made in the 8-16 GHz regions. Vibrational and electronic ground state rotational constants A, B, and C have been obtained, together with centrifugal distortion terms. The complete iodine and nitrogen nuclear quadrupole coupling tensors have been determined for the first time. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to aid with analyses and, in particular, to aid in determining the signs of the off-diagonal components of the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensors. An experimentally determined relative electronegativity scale for several polyhalomethyl groups is proposed.

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.

Chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-3-iodopropane

The pure rotational spectra of the two lowest energy conformers of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-3-iodopropane have been investigated between the frequency limits of 7.5 and 16 GHz using chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to aid the spectral analyses. For the trans–trans conformer, which is calculated to be the lowest in energy, a total of 135 transitions were recorded. For the gauche–gauche conformer a total of 286 transitions were recorded. In both cases the complete iodine nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor has been determined.

Bis-trifluoromethyl Effect: Doubled Transitions in the Rotational Spectra of Hexafluoroisobutene, (CF3)2C═CH2

Rotational spectra for hexafluoroisobutene, and its (13)C isotopologues, have been recorded between 8 and 16 GHz using a chirped pulse, Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Notably, all spectra observed are doubled with separations between the doublets being between 1 and 60 MHz. We propose that the bis-trifluoromethyl groups of the target molecule are staggered in the equilibrium configuration, and that a novel, out-of-phase rotation through a F-CCC-F planar configuration with low barrier (<100 cm(-1)), leads to the observed doubled rotational spectra.

Torsional splitting and the four-fold barrier to internal rotation: The rotational spectra of vinylsulfur pentafluoride

Vinylsulfur pentafluoride (VSPF), a molecule with a four-fold internal rotor, -SF4, has been studied with high resolution Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. We believe that this is the first report of resolved four-fold internal rotation. As such, we have presented the tools needed to understand and analyze such a problem. These include debugging the ERHAM computer program necessary to fit the spectra and the free rotor to high barrier correlation diagram necessary to understand the torsional states of the four-fold rotor. The A, E, and B torsional state rotational transitions are well resolved and assigned. Spectroscopic transitions of four isotopologues of VSPF, H2C=CH-SF5, the normal isotopologue, and the singly substituted 34S and 13C isotopologues were measured and assigned. Contrary to expectation, the A torsional state could not be fit with only a semi-rigid Hamiltonian. The barrier to internal rotation, V 4, is found to be 227 cm-1. Ab initio calculations at the MP2 aug-cc-pVQZ level of theory and basis set were performed and the results of this calculation are compared to our experimental results.

CONFORMATIONAL STUDIES OF 1-OCTYNE FROM ROTATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY

Alkanes of the form CH3(CH2)nCH3 generally favor ground state geometries that have co-planar carbon atoms. In this study, we have looked at a long chain hydrocarbon with a terminal carbon-carbon triple bond, viz., 1-octyne. Guided by the results of the 1-hexyne studies,a three possible low energy conformers were studied which we reference as anti-anti (AA, straight chain), anti-gauche (AG, terminal methyl group is gauche), and gauche-anti (GA, ethyl group is gauche). An initial broadband chirp-pulse was performed between 7-13 GHz and a total of sixty-eight transitions were fit. Additional measurements on a Balle Flygare cavity instrument yielded an additional seventy-three lines belonging to three of the conformers. Transitions for all 8 of the singly substituted C isotopologues, in natural abundance, have also been observed for the AA conformer. Ab-initio optimizations at the MP2/6-311++g(2d,2p) level of theory and basis set for these three conformers will be compared to experimental rotational constants. Structure determinations of the AA conformer will also be discussed.

Iodine: many electrons and much to discuss...THE Nuclear quadrupole coupling, nuclear spin-rotation, conformational analysis, and structural determination of 2-Iodobutane

The rotational spectrum of 2-iodobutane (sec-butyl-iodide) has been collected from 5.5-16.5 GHz using jet-pulsed Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy on both broadbanda and Balle-Flygare cavityb instruments. Transitions belonging to three unique conformers were observed, namley the gauche-, anti-, and gauche′species. All four C isotopologues of the gauche-2-iodobutane were observed. The complete nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor of iodine has been determined for all conformers and C isotopologues. A comparison between these nuclear quadrupole coupling tensors and those of similar iodine-containing molecules will be presented. Changes in the quadrupole coupling of iodine upon isotopic substitution will also be discussed. Additionally, isotopic substitution in conjunction with ab initio calculations allowed for both an rs and r0 structural analysis of gauche-2-iodobutane.

We are family: the conformations of 1-fluoroalkanes, CNH2N+1F (n = 2,3,4,5,6,7,8)

The pure rotational spectra of the n = 5, 6, 7, and 8 members of the 1-fluoroalkane family have been recorded between 7 GHz and 14 GHz using chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The spectra have been analyzed and results will be presented and compared with previous work on the n= 2, 3, and 4 membersb. The lowest energy conformer for all family members has the common feature that the fluorine is in a gauche position relative to the alkyl tail for which all other heavy atom dihedral angles, where appropriate, are 180 degrees. For the n = 3 and higher family members the second lowest energy conformer has all heavy atom dihedral angles equal to 180 degrees. For each family member transitions carried by both low energy conformers were observed in the collected rotational spectra. Quantum chemical calculations were performed and trends in the energy separations between these two common conformers will be presented as a function of chain length. Furthermore, longer chain lengths have been examined using only quantum chemical calculations and results will be presented.