Vanessa Cortijo

Conformational study of 2-phenylethylamine by molecular-beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

The conformational preferences of the simplest amine neurotransmitter 2-phenylethylamine have been investigated using molecular beam Fourier transform microwave (MB-FTMW) spectroscopy. Two new conformers have been observed together with the two previously reported by Godfrey et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1995, 117, 8204]. The (14)N nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure has been resolved for all four conformers. Comparison of the experimental rotational and quadrupole coupling constants with those calculated theoretically provides a conclusive test for the identification of all conformers. The two most stable conformers present a gauche (folded) disposition of the alkyl-amine chain and are stabilised by a weak NH...pi interaction between the amino group and the aromatic ring. The other two conformers show an anti (extended) arrangement of the alkyl-amine chain. Tunnelling splittings have been observed in the spectrum of one of the anti conformers. The post expansion relative abundances in the supersonic jet have been also investigated and related to the conformer energies.

Tautomerism and microsolvation in 2-hydroxypyridine/2-pyridone.

The Fourier transform microwave spectra of the hydrated forms of the tautomeric pair 2-pyridinone/2-hydroxypyridine (2PO/2HP) have been investigated in a supersonic expansion. Three hydrated species, 2PO-H₂O, 2HP-H₂O, and 2PO-(H₂O)₂, have been observed in the rotational spectrum. Each molecular complex was confidently identified by the features of the ¹⁴N quadrupole hyperfine structure of the rotational transitions. The presence of water affects the tautomeric equilibrium -N═C(OH)- ↔ -NH-C(═O)-, which is shifted to the enol form for the bare molecules 2PO/2HP but to the keto tautomer for the hydrated forms.

Conformational behavior of norephedrine, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine.

A conclusive identification of the different conformers of the neurotransmitters ephedrine, norephedrine, and pseudoephedrine has been carried out in the gas-phase by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave (MB-FTMW) spectroscopy. Three conformers of norephedrine, three conformers of ephedrine, and four conformers of pseudoephedrine have been unequivocally assigned through the analysis of their rotational spectra and the comparison of the experimental rotational and (14)N quadrupole coupling constants with those calculated ab initio. The conformational preferences have been rationalized in terms of the various intramolecular forces at play. The main stabilizing interaction is an O-H...N hydrogen bond established in the side chain of the neurotransmitters which adopt an extended disposition in their most stable form.

The rotational spectra, potential function, Born-Oppenheimer breakdown, and hyperfine structure of GeSe and GeTe

The pure rotational spectra of 18 and 21 isotopic species of GeSe and GeTe have been measured in the frequency range 5-24 GHz using a Fabry-Pérot-type resonator pulsed-jet Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Gaseous samples of both chalcogenides were prepared by a combined dc discharge/laser ablation technique and stabilized in supersonic jets of Ne. Global multi-isotopologue analyses of the derived rotational data, together with literature high-resolution infrared data, produced very precise Dunham parameters, as well as rotational constant Born-Oppenheimer breakdown (BOB) coefficients (δ(01)) for Ge, Se, and Te. A direct fit of the same datasets to an appropriate radial Hamiltonian yielded analytic potential-energy functions and BOB radial functions for the X(1)Σ(+) electronic state of both GeSe and GeTe. Additionally, the electric quadrupole and magnetic hyperfine interactions produced by the nuclei (73)Ge, (77)Se, and (125)Te were observed, yielding much improved quadrupole coupling constants and first determinations of the spin-rotation parameters.

Conformational study of taurine in the gas phase.

The conformational preferences of the amino sulfonic acid taurine (NH(2)-CH(2)-CH(2)-SO(3)H) have been investigated in the gas phase by laser ablation molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy (LA-MB-FTMW) in the 6-14 GHz frequency range. One conformer has been observed, and its rotational, centrifugal distortion, and hyperfine quadrupole coupling constants have been determined from the analysis of its rotational spectrum. Comparison of the experimental constants with those calculated theoretically identifies the detected conformer unambiguously. The observed conformer of taurine is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond O-H...N between the hydrogen of the sulfonic acid group and the nitrogen atom of the amino group.

Conformational Map of Phenolic Acids

The benefits of vaporization by laser ablation and the high resolution and sensitivity attained by the chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy CP-FTMW have provided the first conformational map of the simplest phenolic acids of trans-cinnamic and p-coumaric. Two conformers of trans-cinnamic acid and four conformers of trans-p-coumaric acid have been characterized under the isolation conditions of a supersonic expansion. The spectroscopic constants derived from the analysis of the rotational spectra compared with those predicted theoretically provide an unmatched means to achieve an unambiguous identification of the observed species.