Origin of abnormally sharp features in collision-induced spectra of cryosolutions.

A weak, paradoxically narrow resonance feature (shortly, the r-line) near the O2 fundamental frequency in the collision-induced absorption spectrum of oxygen dissolved in liquid argon and liquid nitrogen (T = 89 K) is resolved for the first time. An accurate band shape fitting routine to separate the r-line from the by-far more intense diffuse background and to study its behavior versus the oxygen mole fraction x which ranged from 0.03 up to 0.23 has been elaborated. At small x (≲0.07), the r-line intensity was found to scale as x(2) leaving no doubt that it is due to the solute-solute (O2-O2) interactions. In line with our results on the pH2-LNe cryosystem [Herrebout, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 093001 (2008)], the Lorentzian r-line shape and its extraordinary sharpness (half width at half height ≈ 1 cm(-1)) are indicative of the motional narrowing of the relative solute-solute translational spectrum. As x is further raised, ternary solute-solute interactions impede the r-line growth in the O2-LAr spectrum because of the cancellation effect [J. Van Kranendonk, Physica 23, 825 (1957)]. Theoretical arguments are given that multiple interactions between the solutes should finally destroy the solute-solute induced r-line when the mixed solution approaches the limit of the pure liquid (x = 1). Interestingly, the nonbinary effects are too weak to appreciably affect the quadratic r-line scaling in the O2-LN2 cryosystem which persists up to x = 0.23. It is emphasized that studies of the resonant features in the collision-induced spectra of binary cryosolutions open up unique opportunities to spectroscopically trace the microscopic-scale diffusion.

Concentration studies of collision-induced fundamental absorption of hydrogen dissolved in liquid neon.

We report further and more detailed results of our recent investigation [W. A. Herrebout, B. J. van der Veken, and A. P. Kouzov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 093001 (2008)] on the collision-induced fundamental absorption by hydrogen dissolved in liquid neon (T ≈ 25 K). The band shapes were studied in a wide range of concentrations (0.003-0.05 mole fractions) as well as for different ortho/para ratios and at much higher level of accuracy and resolution than before. Due to almost unhindered rotation of the hydrogen molecule and low temperature, an unprecedently rich frequency-domain picture produced by different terms of the interaction-induced polarization was observed. While some of them are conspicuous via fast intracell motion of a light guest (H(2)), others--induced by the electrostatic field of the guest--give rise to lines whose shapes are imprinted by fluctuations of the nearest surrounding. Strong motional narrowing observed on the guest-guest induced lines shows up in their Lorentzian shapes which are signatures of microscopic-scale diffusion. Near-Lorentzian peaks were also detected at the tops of the diffuse lines induced by isolated guests. Their formation may be associated with a long-living defect (vacancy) emerging in the vicinity of the polarization inductor. Altogether, our results give the first unambiguous spectroscopic evidence on the diffusional evolution of isolated binary interactions that emerge in dense chaotic media.

New line narrowing effects in the infrared collision-induced spectra of molecular hydrogens in liquid neon.

The first spectroscopic observation of the relative (solute-solute) diffusion in a fluid environment is reported. New, unusually sharp Q1q(J) lines developing against the diffuse background in the collision-induced fundamental IR bands of hydrogen isotopomers (H2, D2, and HD) dissolved in liquid Ne (T approximately 25 K) are studied as functions of the solute concentration x. In all cases, the Q1q intensity parabolically scales with x, accompanied by a striking narrowing of the line shapes. The narrowing, as revealed by the p-H2 solution studies, is due to a faster growth with x of the sharper solute-solute induced component of the single Q1q(0) line. The latter as well as other observed solute-solute lines are strongly narrowed by fast velocity decorrelations and are signatures of microscopic-scale diffusion. Also, a first observation of the solute-solvent induced J-->J + 4 transitions is reported.

Microwave spectra, ab initio calculations, and r0 structural parameters for (methylamino)thiophosphoryl difluoride.

The microwave spectra of (methylamino)thiophosphoryl difluoride, CH(3)NHP(=S)F(2), and two deuterated species, CH(3)NDP(=S)F(2) and CD(3)NHP(=S)F(2), have been investigated in the region from 26.5 to 39.0 GHz. The rotational constants of the ground vibrational state have been determined and have been shown to be only consistent with the trans conformer (CH(3) group antiperiplanar to the P=S bond) with C(s) symmetry. The a-type R branch transitions have been assigned for the trans conformer for the three isotopomers on the basis of the rigid rotor model. Near-trans and near-cis forms without molecular planes of symmetry are predicted by all ab initio calculations with the near-trans form being more stable. However, the double-well potentials governing the interchange between the two enantiomeric near-trans as well as the two near-cis forms are too shallow to accommodate the zero-point energies of the nu(24) asymmetric torsion. Thus, the trans conformation with C(s) symmetry may be more accurate in explaining the microwave experimental data. The "adjusted" r(0) structural parameters have been obtained by systematically adjusting the ab initio MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) structure of the trans conformer with C(s) symmetry to fit the microwave rotational constants. The determined heavy atom distances are r(C-N) = 1.459(5), r(P-N) = 1.621(5), r(P=S) = 1.879(5), and r(P-F) = 1.550(5) A, and the heavy atom angles are angleCNP = 124.7(5) degrees , angleNPS = 118.3(5) degrees , angleNPF = 103.2(5) degrees , angleFPS = 117.0(5) degrees , and angleFPF = 94.6(5) degrees . The adjusted r(0) parameters have also been obtained for aminodifluorophosphine, H(2)NPF(2), with a slightly pyramidal -PNH(2) moiety. The results indicate that the previously reported short distance of 0.981(5) A for the N-H(o)(outer) bond from the microwave study is too short, and the adjusted r(0) value of 1.007(3) A is obtained from the combined data. Adjusted r(0) parameters are also reported for (dimethylamino)difluorophosphine, (CH(3))(2)NPF(2), with C(s) symmetry with the PNC(2) portion of the molecule being planar. The previously reported C-H distances from the electron diffraction study are too long, and the anglePNC(i) and angleC(o)NC(i) angles are also found to be in error. These results provide a reasonable explanation why the microwave and electron diffraction results differ for the structures of these latter two molecules.

Determination of the absolute configuration of three as-hydrindacene compounds by vibrational circular dichroism.

[Structure: see text]. The absolute configurations of three compounds with a rigid 1,8-disubstituted as-hydrindacene skeleton have been determined using vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Experimental spectra were compared to B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level predicted spectra. Based on the agreement between the predicted and experimental spectra, the stereochemistry could be assigned with high confidence. The results were found to be in agreement with ECD determinations and/or predictions based on the applied asymmetric methods in the synthetic route.

Experimental analysis and modified rotor description of the infrared fundamental band of HCl in Ar, Kr, and Xe solutions.

We report an experimental study of the rotovibrational fundamental PQR-band shapes in the IR absorption spectra of HCl dissolved in condensed rare gases in a wide range of temperatures. The effective vibrational frequencies are determined from analysis of the fine rotational structure partially resolved in the band wings. The central Q-branch components appear redshifted with respect to the effective vibrational frequencies, their shifts in different solvents found to match the HCl stretching mode shifts in binary Rg...HCl van der Waals heterodimers. Theoretical quasi-free rotor and modified rotor models are applied to describe evolution of the band profiles at changing thermodynamic conditions. Both models are shown to reproduce equally well the observed spectral density distributions in the band wings. However, the modified rotor formalism that accounts for depopulation of the lower-energy rotational solute states provides better agreement with the experiment in the range of the P- and R-branch maxima. We surmise that the Q branches separated from the measured spectral profiles are formed by transitions between rotationally hindered states of diatomic molecules coupled to the solvent by the local anisotropy of the interaction potential.

A cryosolution infrared and ab initio study of the van der Waals complexes of cyclopentene with hydrogen chloride and boron trifluoride.

The formation of weak molecular complexes of cyclopentene with HCl and BF3, dissolved in liquid argon is investigated using infrared spectroscopy. Evidence is found for the formation of 1:1 complexes in which the Lewis acid under study binds to the CC double bond. At higher concentrations of HCl, weak absorption bands due to 1:2 species are also observed. From spectra recorded at different temperatures between 92 and 127 K, the complexation enthalpies for CP.HCl and CP.BF3 are determined to be -9.5(3) and -16.1(9) kJ mol-1, while for CP.(HCl)2 a value of -17.0(6) kJ mol-1 is obtained. For the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, structural and spectral information is obtained from ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-31+G(d) level. Using free energy perturbation Monte Carlo simulations to calculate the solvation enthalpies and statistical thermodynamics to account for zero-point vibrational and thermal contributions, the complexation energies for CP.HCl and CP.(HCl)2 are estimated from the experimental complexation enthalpies to be -17.4(14) and -34.0(20) kJ mol-1, while the value for CP.BF3 was derived to be -23.4(22) kJ mol-1. The experimental complexation energies are compared with the theoretical values derived from the MP2/6-31+G(d) potential energy surfaces and with single point energies calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(3df,2pd) level.

Infrared spectra and relative stability of the F3CH/NH3 H-bonded complex in liquefied Xe.

FTIR spectra of mixtures of fluoroform (F3CH) and ammonia (NH3), have been studied in liquid xenon between 5400 and 500 cm-1. Spectroscopic evidence for the formation of a hydrogen bonded complex has been found and the complexation enthalpy Delta(LXe)H degrees in the temperature interval between 173 and 215 K, was determined to be 14.4 (7) kJ mol-1. The parallel fundamentals nu1 and nu2 of ammonia reveal a strong narrowing effect upon complex formation, whereas the perpendicular fundamentals nu3 and nu4 show a modest decrease of their width. CP corrected ab initio calculations at the MP2(FULL)/6-311++G(3df,2pd) level predict a linear geometry for the complex, characterized by a small red shift of the CH stretch frequency of fluoroform. The ab initio interaction energy was found to be compatible with the isolated molecule complexation energy extrapolated from the experimental Delta(LXe)H degrees .

The vibrational spectrum of NF3 and the manifestation of resonant dipole-dipole interaction in NF3 solutions in liquid argon.

Vibrational spectra of trifluoramine, NF3, dissolved in liquid Ar were studied at 90 K in the concentration range between 2 x 10(-5) and 0.1 mole fraction, using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The concentration dependence of the band shapes in the region of the combination transitions nu1+nu3, nu2+nu3, and 2nu3 involving the strong nu3 mode was studied and the absorption associated with NF3 dimers was isolated. This absorption is compared with spectra of NF3 dimers calculated on the basis of resonant dipole-dipole interaction between two doubly degenerate oscillators. Spectra of pure liquid NF3 were recorded for comparison. Using the nu1+nu3 absorption band of the NF3 dimer the distance R between two NF3 molecules was determined to be R=4.5(1) A in solution in liquid Ar. This distance is compared with the separation between two NF3 molecules in liquid NF3 and with the value calculated from the pair distribution function obtained from Monte Carlo simulations.

The nature of improper, blue-shifting hydrogen bonding verified experimentally.

In the infrared spectra of solutions in liquid argon of dimethyl ether ((CH(3))(2)O) and fluoroform (HCF(3)), bands due to a 1:1 complex between these monomers have been observed. The C-H stretch of the HCF(3) moiety in the complex appears 17.7 cm(-1) above that in the monomer, and its intensity decreases by a factor of 11(2). These characteristics situate the interaction between the monomers in the realm of improper, blue-shifting hydrogen bonding. The complexation shifts the C-F stretches downward by some 9 cm(-1), while the C-H stretches in (CH(3))(2)O are shifted upward by 9-15 cm(-1), and the C-O stretches are shifted downward by 5 cm(-1). These shifts are in very good agreement with those calculated by means of correlated ab initio methods, and this validates a two-step mechanism for improper, blue-shifting hydrogen bonding. In the first step, the electron density is transferred from the oxygen lone electron pairs of the proton acceptor ((CH(3))(2)O) to fluorine lone electron pairs of the proton donor (CHF(3)) which yields elongation of all CF bonds. Elongation of CF bonds is followed (in the second step) by structural reorganization of the CHF(3) moiety, which leads to the contraction of the CH bond. It is thus clearly demonstrated that not only the spectral manifestation of H-bonding and improper H-bonding but also their nature differ.