Rotational spectrum and structure of the HCN–(CO2)3 tetramer

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Microwave rotational transitions have been observed for HCN–(CO2)3, DCN–(CO2)3, H13CN–(CO2)3, HC15N–(CO2)3, HCN–(13CO2)3, HCN–(18OCO)(CO2)2, and HCN–(CO2)(C18O2)2 with the pulsed Fourier transform, Flygare/Balle Mark II spectrometer. A symmetric top spectrum was observed for the parent isotopic species with rotational constants of B0=861.6392(1) MHz, DJ =0.681(5) kHz, and DJK =0.821(12) kHz. The results for isotopic substitution indicate a zero‐point, vibrationally averaged geometry having the C3 symmetry of a cyclic (CO2)3 structure with the HCN along the symmetry axis and the N end closest to the (CO2)3. The C3 symmetry is confirmed by the observation of states limited to K=±3n, with n=0,1,2,..., as predicted for threefold symmetry generated by bosons only. The (CO2)3 has a pinwheel configuration, as in the free trimer, and the three carbons lie in a plane R=2.758 Å below the center of mass (c.m.) of the HCN. The C‐C distance in this subunit is 3.797 Å which is 0.241 Å shorter than that found in the free (CO2)3 trimer. The individual CO2’s in the (CO2)3 pinwheel are rotated out of the C–C–C plane by γ=−6.9°, as determined from an inertial analysis, with the inner oxygens rotated away from the HCN. The HCN has an average torsional angle of 10.3°, as determined by isotopic substitution, and an observed χcc value of −3.891 MHz for the 14 N. The c.m.(HCN) to C distance is 3.525 Å, compared to 3.592 Å in the HCN‐CO2 T‐shaped dimer. The isotopic substitution by 18O perturbs the structure of the symmetric top clusters by a remarkable amount, decreasing γ to −28.9° and increasing R and RCC to 2.797 and 3.814 Å, respectively. In the 18O substituted species, the CO2’s are rotated in the C–C–C plane from C3v symmetry by the pinwheel angle β=∼32.5°.