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High-resolution Fourier-transform infrared spectra of Al(BH4)3 and Al(BD4)3 were obtained for low-pressure samples at room temperature. Results indicated only wide vibrational bands with no resolved rotational structure. The BH bridge stretching and the BH2 deformation areas were also analyzed at 0.001/cm resolution through tunable infrared diode laser spectroscopy for samples cooled to about 10 K in a multipass, slit expansion. Results showed near continua, with much more crowding than predicted by nonrigid rotor simulations based on boron isotopic shifts.

High-resolution coherent anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is used to study the Nu(sub 1) symmetric CO stretching mode of the quasi-linear molecule carbon suboxide, C3O2. The results obtained indicate that the ground-state barrier to linearity increases by only 0.6 cm(super -1) when the CO symmetric stretch is excited.

Gas-phase electron-diffraction (GED) data have been combined with recent spectroscopic rotational constants to determine the ra0 structural parameters for spiropentane, C5H8. The structure has D2d symmetry, and the results yield values of 1.105(2) Å for the CH bond length, 1.557(3) Å for the distal CC bond length, and a smaller value of 1.482(1) Å for the four lateral CC bonds that connect to the central carbon atom. The HCH angle is 113.7(13)°, and the HCH flap angle, defined as the angle of the HCH bisector and the distal CC bond, is 150.2(16)°. Corresponding rg values are 1.122(2) Å, 1.560(3) Å, 1.485(1) Å, 115.1(13)°, and 148.9 (16)°. The results are in good accord with values from density functional calculations (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) and resolve some questions about the structure reported in an earlier GED study, in particular about the HCH angle and anomalous rotational constants calculated for the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas phase electron-diffraction (GED) data obtained at a nozzle-tip temperature of 273 K have been combined with spectroscopic vibrational-rotational constants to determine the structure of trans-methyldiazene, an important prototype for the N═N double bond. The N-deuterio form CH 3 N═ND was used in the study since it is appreciably more stable than CH 3 N═NH. Both the theoretical and experimental results are consistent with a planar C s trans-CNND framework. The experimental results ( r α 0 / r g 273 ) are 1.465(2)/1.467(2) Å for the CN bond, 1.248(1)/1.251(1) Å for the N═N double bond, and 1.037(17)/1.048(17) Å for the ND bond. The NND angle is 105.9(20)/105.6(20)° and the CNN angle is 112.4(5)/112.2(5)°, where the uncertainties in parentheses are twice the standard deviation from a simultaneous least-squares fit of the GED and microwave data. For the methyl group, both theory and experiment indicate that two CH bonds are symmetrically arranged out of the molecular plane while the third CH' lies in the plane in an eclipsed (not staggered) cis-H'CNN arrangement. Theoretical calculations (B3LYP/cc-PVnZ and CCSD(T)/cc-PVnZ) suggest a slight distortion of the methyl group, with a tilt of the methyl top axis about 5° away from the N═N bond. The experimental data are consistent with this picture but are equally consistent with an undistorted methyl group. Inclusion of distortions predicted by theory in a complete basis set limit (CBS) lead to a preferred analysis with average values of 1.086(5)/1.106(5) Å for the CH bond length and an average HCH angle of 108.3(8)/107.8(8)°. Features of the structure of methyldiazene and related compounds are discussed. It is found that the short N═N bond length in the diazenes produces much greater steric repulsion than in analogous ethylene compounds and this effect leads to some interesting conformational and distortion differences for attached CH 3 groups.

Gas-phase electron-diffraction (GED) data have been combined with recent spectroscopic rotational constants to determine the r α 0 structural parameters for spiropentane, C 5 H 8 . The structure has D 2d symmetry, and the results yield values of 1.105(2) Å for the CH bond length, 1.557(3) Å for the distal CC bond length, and a smaller value of 1.482(1) Å for the four lateral CC bonds that connect to the central carbon atom. The HCH angle is 113.7(13)°, and the HCH flap angle, defined as the angle of the HCH bisector and the distal CC bond, is 150.2(16)°. Corresponding r g values are 1.122(2) Å, 1.560(3) Å, 1.485(1) Å, 115.1(13)°, and 148.9 (16)°. The results are in good accord with values from density functional calculations (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) and resolve some questions about the structure reported in an earlier GED study, in particular about the HCH angle and anomalous rotational constants calculated for the structure.

Combined high-resolution spectroscopic, electron-diffraction, and quantum theoretical methods are particularly advantageous for small molecules of high symmetry and can yield accurate structures that reveal subtle effects of electron delocalization on molecular bonds. The smallest of the radialene compounds, trimethylenecyclopropane, [3]-radialene, has been synthesized and examined by these methods. The first high-resolution infrared spectra have been obtained for this molecule of D3h symmetry, leading to an accurate B0 rotational constant value of 0.1378629(8) cm(-1), within 0.5% of the value obtained from electronic structure calculations (density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/cc-pVTZ). This result is employed in an analysis of electron-diffraction data to obtain the rz bond lengths (in Å): C-H = 1.072(17), C-C = 1.437(4), and C═C = 1.330(4). The results indicate that the effects of rehybridization and π-electron delocalization affects each result in a shortening of about 0.05 Å for the C-C bond in radialene compared to ethane. The analysis does not lead to an accurate value of the HCH angle; however, from comparisons of theoretical and experimental angles for similar compounds, the theoretical prediction of 117.5° is believed to be reliable to within 2°.

High-resolution (0.001 cm(-1)) coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) has been used to study the nu1 symmetric CO stretching mode of the quasi-linear molecule carbon suboxide, C3O2. Q-branch transitions are seen that originate from the ground state and from thermally populated levels of the nu7 CCC bending mode, which is of unusually low frequency. The intensity variation of the Q-branch features on cooling to about 120 K in a jet expansion requires the reversal of the order of assignment given in a previous Raman study at low resolution. The identification of the nu1 sigma(g)+ <-- sigma(g)+ transition from the ground state is confirmed by the absence of J(odd) Q-branch lines in the resolved CARS spectrum. Analysis of this band in terms of a quasi-linear model gives a good fit to the observed transitions and leads to vibrational-rotational parameters (in cm(-1)) of nu1 = 2199.9773(12) and (B' - B'') = -2.044(6) x 10(-4). Other transitions originating from higher nu7 levels occur at only slightly lower wavenumber values and permit the calculation of the double minimum potential in the Q7 bending coordinate. The results indicate that the ground-state barrier to linearity (21.5 cm(-1)) increases by only 0.6 cm(-1) when the CO symmetric stretch is excited.