Five intermolecular vibrations of the CO2 dimer observed via infrared combination bands.

The weakly bound van der Waals dimer (CO2)2 has long been of considerable theoretical and experimental interest. Here, we study its low frequency intermolecular vibrations by means of combination bands in the region of the CO2 monomer ν3 fundamental (≈2350 cm-1), which are observed using a tunable infrared laser to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion. With the help of a recent high level ab initio calculation by Wang, Carrington, and Dawes, four intermolecular frequencies are assigned: the in-plane disrotatory bend (22.26 cm-1); the out-of-plane torsion (23.24 cm-1); twice the disrotatory bend (31.51 cm-1); and the in-plane conrotatory bend (92.25 cm-1). The disrotatory bend and torsion, separated by only 0.98 cm-1, are strongly mixed by Coriolis interactions. The disrotatory bend overtone is well behaved, but the conrotatory bend is highly perturbed and could not be well fitted. The latter perturbations could be due to tunneling effects, which have not previously been observed experimentally for CO2 dimer. A fifth combination band, located 1.3 cm-1 below the conrotatory bend, remains unassigned.

Theory vs. experiment for molecular clusters: Spectra of OCS trimers and tetramers.

All singly substituted (13)C, (18)O, and (34)S isotopomers of the previously known OCS trimer are observed in natural abundance in a broad-band spectrum measured with a chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The complete substitution structure thus obtained critically tests (and confirms) the common assumption that monomers tend to retain their free structure in a weakly bound cluster. A new OCS trimer isomer is also observed, and its structure is determined to be barrel-shaped but with the monomers all approximately aligned, in contrast to the original trimer which is barrel-shaped with two monomers aligned and one anti-aligned. An OCS tetramer spectrum is assigned for the first time, and the tetramer structure resembles an original trimer with an OCS monomer added at the end with two sulfur atoms. Infrared spectra observed in the region of the OCS ν1 fundamental (≈2060 cm(-1)) are assigned to the same OCS tetramer, and another infrared band is tentatively assigned to a different tetramer isomer. The experimental results are compared and contrasted with theoretical predictions from the literature and from new cluster calculations which use an accurate OCS pair potential and assume pairwise additivity.

Fundamental and torsional combination bands of two isomers of the OCS-CO2 complex in the CO2 ν3 region.

Spectra of two isomers of the weakly bound complex OCS-CO2 are observed in the region of the CO2 ν3 fundamental vibration (∼2349 cm(-1)), using an infrared tunable diode laser to probe a pulsed supersonic slit-jet expansion. Two bands are measured and analyzed for each isomer, the fundamental asymmetric stretch of the CO2 component and a combination band involving this fundamental plus the intermolecular out-of-plane torsional mode. For one isomer, the corresponding torsional combination band is also detected in the OCS ν1 stretching region (∼2060 cm(-1)). The resulting torsional frequencies are found to be 18.8 and 15.9 cm(-1) for isomers a and b of OCS-CO2, respectively. This may be the first time that such a combination band is observed for a higher-energy isomer of a weakly bound complex.

New infrared bands of nonpolar OCS dimer and experimental frequencies for two intermolecular modes.

Spectra of the nonpolar carbonyl sulfide dimer in the region of the OCS ν(1) fundamental band were observed in a slit-jet supersonic expansion. The jet was probed using radiation from a tunable diode laser employed in a rapid-scan signal averaging mode. Six new bands were observed and analyzed, all of which originate from the dimer ground vibrational state. Three were vibrational fundamentals involving the ((18)OCS)(2) and (16)OCS-(18)OCS isotopologues. They enabled an estimate to be made of the frequency of the infrared-forbidden mode corresponding to in-phase vibration of the OCS monomers in the dimer, a value needed to obtain an intermolecular vibrational frequency from one of the observed combination bands. A relatively weak b-type dimer band centered at 2103.105 cm(-1) was assigned to the OCS 4ν(2) (l = 0) bending overtone. Combination bands were observed involving the geared bend and van der Waals stretch intermolecular modes. The resulting experimental frequencies of 37.5(20) cm(-1) for the bend and 42.9727(1) cm(-1) for the stretch are in good agreement with a recent high level theoretical calculation.

Spectroscopic identification of carbon dioxide clusters: (CO2)6 to (CO2)13.

In spite of wide interest in CO(2) clusters, only dimers and trimers have previously been assigned to specific infrared bands. Here, transitions for clusters with 6-13 molecules are identified in the ν(3) region (∼2350 cm(-1)). Spectra are observed in a supersonic jet (T ∼ 2.5 K) using a tunable laser probe, and analyzed with the aid of cluster calculations based on a widely-used model potential. Vibrational origins show blue-shifts significantly larger than predicted by resonant dipole interactions.

High resolution infrared spectroscopy of carbon dioxide clusters up to (CO2)13.

Thirteen specific infrared bands in the 2350 cm(-1) region are assigned to carbon dioxide clusters, (CO(2))(N), with N = 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The spectra are observed in direct absorption using a tuneable infrared laser to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion of a dilute mixture of CO(2) in He carrier gas. Assignments are aided by cluster structure calculations made using two reliable CO(2) intermolecular potential functions. For (CO(2))(6), two highly symmetric isomers are observed, one with S(6) symmetry (probably the more stable form), and the other with S(4) symmetry. (CO(2))(13) is also symmetric (S(6)), but the remaining clusters are asymmetric tops with no symmetry elements. The observed rotational constants tend to be slightly (≈2%) smaller than those from the predicted structures. The bands have increasing vibrational blueshifts with increasing cluster size, similar to those predicted by the resonant dipole-dipole interaction model but significantly larger in magnitude.

Nitrous oxide tetramer has two highly symmetric isomers.

Infrared spectra of the nitrous oxide tetramer, (N(2)O)(4), are studied in the region of the N(2)O ν(1) fundamental band (∼2200 cm(-1)). The spectra are observed using a tunable diode laser to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. Parallel (ΔK = 0) bands are observed for the previously observed isomer of (N(2)O)(4), which is confirmed by isotopic substitution to have an oblate symmetric rotor structure with D(2d) symmetry. A distinct new isomer of (N(2)O)(4) is observed by means of a perpendicular (ΔK = ±1) band. It has a prolate symmetric rotor structure with S(4) symmetry. These isomers represent two distinct, but almost equally favorable, ways of bringing together a pair of nonpolar N(2)O dimers to form a tetramer. It is not clear at present which one represents the true ground state.

Geometric isomerism in the OCS-CS2 complex: observation of a cross-shaped isomer.

Infrared spectra of the OCS-CS(2) van der Waals complex were studied in a pulsed supersonic slit-jet using a tunable diode laser probe. Spectra were recorded in the region of nu(1) fundamental of OCS. Two bands were observed and analyzed, one band corresponding to a previously observed planar isomer and another due to a new isomer which has a nonplanar cross-shaped structure. The intermolecular (center of mass) separation of the planar isomer is 3.87017(2) A. The structure of this isomer has been determined previously from its rotational spectrum. The cross-shaped isomer was observed here for the first time, and its structure was determined with the help of isotopic substitution. Two structural parameters, the intermolecular distance (R) and an angle (phi), are necessary to completely define the structure. These were determined to be R 3.5553(8) A and phi = 104.82(22) degrees which are in fair agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Infrared spectroscopic investigation of two isomers of the weakly bound complex OCS-(CO2)2.

Vibration-rotation spectra of the OCS-(CO(2))(2) van der Waals complex were studied by means of direct infrared absorption spectroscopy. Complexes were generated in a supersonic slit-jet apparatus, and the expansion gas was probed using a rapid-scan tunable diode laser. Infrared bands were observed for two different isomeric forms of the complex. A relatively strong band centered at 2058.799 cm(-1) was assigned to the most stable isomer, which has a barrel-shaped geometry and is already known from microwave spectroscopy. A weaker infrared band centered at 2050.702 cm(-1) was assigned to a new isomeric form, observed here for the first time, which was expected on the basis of ab initio calculations. Infrared bands for seven isotopomers were recorded in an attempt to quantify the structure of the new isomer. Because it has no symmetry elements, nine parameters are needed to fully define the geometry. It was possible to determine six of these which define the relative position of the OCS monomer with respect to the CO(2) dimer fragment in the complex while the remaining three were fixed at their ab initio values. Similarities and differences between the faces of the two isomers of OCS-(CO(2))(2) and the associated dimers are discussed.

Infrared spectra of OCS-C(6)H(6), OCS-C(6)H(6)-He, and OCS-C(6)H(6)-Ne van der Waals complexes.

The infrared spectrum of weakly bound OCS-C(6)H(6) is studied in the region of the nu(1) fundamental band of OCS ( approximately 2050 cm(-1)) using a tunable diode laser spectrometer to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. This is one of the first direct infrared observations of a benzene-containing van der Waals complex. A very simple band is observed, corresponding to the parallel transition of a symmetric top. It is shifted by -11.1 cm(-1) with respect to the free OCS monomer. The isotopologues OCS-(13)C (12)C(5)H(6) and OC (34)S-C(6)H(6) are observed, and the derived structure has OCS located along the benzene C(6) symmetry axis in an S-bonded configuration with a center of mass separation of 4.42 A, in good agreement with previous microwave spectra. Similar bands are observed for the trimers OCS-C(6)H(6)-He and OCS-C(6)H(6)-Ne, whose structure is obtained by adding an on-axis rare gas atom to the other side of the benzene. However, the analogous band for OCS-C(6)H(6)-Ar is not detected, raising the possibility that the stable form of this trimer may not have the same symmetrical structure. A "mystery" feature is observed close to the OCS-C(6)H(6) band origin and its possible assignment to a cluster such as OCS-(C(6)H(6))(3) is discussed.

New infrared spectra of the nitrous oxide trimer.

Infrared spectra of N(2)O trimers are studied using a tunable diode laser to probe a pulsed supersonic slit-jet expansion. A previous observation by Miller and Pedersen [J. Chem. Phys. 108, 436 (1998)] in the N(2)O nu(1)+nu(3) combination band region ( approximately 3480 cm(-1)) showed the trimer structure to be noncyclic, with three inequivalent N(2)O monomer units which could be thought of as an N(2)O dimer (slipped antiparallel configuration) plus a third monomer unit lying above the dimer plane. The present observations cover the N(2)O fundamental band regions nu(3) ( approximately 1280 cm(-1)) and nu(1) ( approximately 2230 cm(-1)). In the nu(3) region, two trimer bands are assigned with vibrational shifts and other characteristics similar to those in the nu(1)+nu(3) region, but in the nu(1) region all three possible trimer bands are observed. Relationships among the various bands are considered with reference to their rotational intensity patterns, their vibrational shifts, and the properties of the related N(2)O dimer, with results that generally support the conclusions of Miller and Pedersen. Three trimer bands are also observed for the fully (15)N-substituted species in the nu(1) region, and these results should aid in the detection of the as-yet-unobserved pure rotational microwave spectrum of the trimer.

Infrared spectra of the OCS-CO(2) complex: Observation of two distinct slipped near-parallel isomers.

Infrared spectra of OCS-CO(2) complexes are studied in a pulsed supersonic slit-jet expansion using a tunable diode laser probe in the 2060 cm(-1) region of the C-O stretching fundamental of OCS. Two bands are observed and analyzed, corresponding to two distinct isomers of the complex. Isomer a is the known form which has been previously studied in the microwave region. Isomer b is a new form, expected theoretically but first observed here. Structures are determined with the help of isotopic substitution. Both isomers are planar, with slipped near-parallel geometries. In isomer a, the intermolecular (center of mass) separation is 3.55 A and the C atom of the CO(2) is closer to the S atom of the OCS. In isomer b, the C atom of CO(2) slides closer to the O atom of OCS and the center of mass separation increases to 3.99 A. Isomer a is the lowest energy form, but paradoxically isomer b appears to be stronger in our infrared spectra. Predicted pure rotational transition frequencies are given to help in a search for the microwave spectrum of isomer b.

Ubiquitous T-shaped isomers of OCS-hydrocarbon van der Waals complexes.

Many weakly bound OCS-hydrocarbon complexes exhibit a relatively simple rotation-vibration band, characteristic of a T-shaped structure, which is redshifted (by 5-12 cm(-1)) from the OCS monomer nu(1) frequency. Spectra of OCS with seven chain and ring hydrocarbons are described here. They allow a straightforward comparison of intermolecular force effects (vibrational shift and intermolecular separation) over a range of molecules, which could be extended to other hydrocarbons and other probes such as CO(2) and N(2)O.

Nitrous oxide dimer: an ab initio coupled-cluster study of isomers, interconversions, and infrared fundamental bands, and experimental observation of a new fundamental for the polar isomer.

Improved quantum chemistry (coupled-cluster) results are presented for spectroscopic parameters and the potential energy surface for the N(2)O dimer. The calculations produce three isomer structures, of which the two lowest energy forms are those observed experimentally: a nonpolar C(2h)-symmetry planar slipped-antiparallel geometry (with inward-located O atoms) and a higher-energy polar C(s)-symmetry planar slipped-parallel geometry. Harmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities for these isomers are calculated. The low-frequency intermolecular vibrational mode predictions should be useful for future spectroscopic searches, and there is good agreement in the one case where an experimental value is available. The frequency shifts for the high-frequency intramolecular stretching vibrations, relative to the monomer, were calculated and used to help locate a new infrared band of the polar isomer, which corresponds to the weaker out-of-phase combination of the nu(1) antisymmetric stretch of the individual monomers. The new band was observed in the region of the monomer nu(1) fundamental for both ((14)N(2)O)(2) and ((15)N(2)O)(2) using a tunable infrared diode laser to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion, and results are presented.

The torsional vibration of the CO2-N2O complex determined from its infrared spectrum.

The spectra of the weakly bound complex CO(2)-N(2)O are studied in the regions of the nu(1) and nu(3) fundamentals of N(2)O and the nu(3) fundamental of CO(2) using a rapid-scan tunable diode laser spectrometer to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. Five bands are measured and analyzed, of which four have not been previously studied. Two bands at 2225.75 and 1279.58 cm(-1), with a/b-type rotational structure, are assigned to the nu(1) and nu(3) fundamentals of the N(2)O component of the complex. Small perturbations are noted in the nu(3) band, similar to those observed previously for the nonpolar dimer (N(2)O)(2) in the nu(3) and nu(1)+nu(3) regions. The previously known band at 2348.86 cm(-1) in the region of the nu(3) CO(2) stretch is analyzed in improved detail. Weaker c-type bands at 2251.46 and 2374.67 cm(-1) are assigned as combinations of the intermolecular torsional (out-of-plane) vibration plus the N(2)O nu(1) and CO(2) nu(3) stretches, respectively. The resulting torsional frequency of CO(2)-N(2)O is experimentally determined for the first time to be 25.8 cm(-1).

Dual beam photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy of solids using an external cavity quantum cascade laser.

Quantum cascade laser-based instrumentation for dual beam photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy is described in this article. Experimental equipment includes a 4.55 µm (2141-2265 cm(-1)) continuous wave external cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL), two gas-microphone PA cells, and two lock-in amplifiers. Correction for the time and wavenumber dependence of the laser output is effected through real-time division of the PA signals derived from the sample and reference channels. Source-compensated mid-infrared absorption spectra of carbon black powder and aromatic hydrocarbon solids were obtained to confirm the reliability of the method. Absorption maxima in the EC-QCL PA spectra of hydrocarbons are better defined than those in Fourier transform infrared spectra acquired under similar conditions, enabling the detection of several previously unknown bands.

Nonpolar nitrous oxide dimer: fundamentals of the mixed 14N2O-15N2O dimer and new combination bands of (14N2O)2 and (15N2O)2 involving the Bu, intermolecular bend.

Spectra of the nonpolar nitrous oxide dimer in the region of the N2O v1 fundamental band are observed in a pulsed supersonic slit jet expansion probed with a tunable diode laser. Four bands are analysed: two fundamentals of the mixed 14N2O-15N2O dimer and combination bands involving the intermolecular disrotation of the monomers (Bu intermolecular bend) for both (14N2O)2 and (15N2O)2. Because the determination of this intermolecular frequency relies on the experimentally unknown frequency of the (forbidden) symmetric fundamental, we used previously published ab initio results and their proximity to our experimental values to assign the upper state of the combination bands. The resulting intermolecular disrotation frequencies are 42.3(1.0) and 41.6(1.0) cm(-1) for the (14N2O)2 and (15N2O)2, respectively. This represents the first observation of the mixed 14N2O-15N2O dimer, and the direct determination of a second intermolecular frequency for the nonpolar (N2O)2.

Measurement and revised analysis of the torsional combination band of the nonpolar N2O dimer at 2249 cm(-1).

The high-resolution infrared spectrum of the weakly-bound dimer (N(2)O)(2) is studied using a rapid-scan tunable-diode laser spectrometer to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. An observed band with c-type rotational structure is assigned as a combination of the intramolecular N(2)O nu(1) stretching vibration and the intermolecular out-of-plane dimer torsional vibration, with a vibrational origin at 2249.360 cm(-1). The resulting torsional frequency for the nonpolar N(2)O dimer is about 21.5 cm(-1). The present rotational analysis is completely different from that reported previously for the same band [Hecker et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2003, 5, 2333], which gave a band origin some 1.53 cm(-1) lower.

The cyclic CO2 trimer: observation of a parallel band and determination of an intermolecular out-of-plane torsional frequency.

A new parallel (DeltaK=0) band of the cyclic CO(2) trimer is observed at 2364 cm(-1). The trimers are generated in a pulsed supersonic expansion from a slit-jet nozzle and probed with a tunable infrared diode laser. The band is assigned as a combination of an intramolecular CO(2) monomer nu(3) stretch and an intermolecular out-of-plane torsion, giving a torsional frequency of 12-13 cm(-1). The band is surprisingly strong and completely unperturbed, providing a rare and near perfect example for a parallel band of a symmetric top molecule with C(3h) symmetry and zero nuclear spins.

Molecular and functional analyses of incompatibility genes at het-6 in a population of Neurospora crassa.

Two closely linked genes, un-24 and het-6, associated with the het-6 heterokaryon incompatibility functional haplotype were examined in 40 Neurospora crassa strains from a Louisiana sugarcane field. Partial diploid analyses were used to determine that half of the strains were functionally Oak Ridge (OR) and half were non-OR and indistinguishable from the standard Panama (PA) form. PCR-based markers were developed to identify polymorphisms within both un-24 and het-6. Two common forms of each gene occur based on these molecular markers. Rare forms of both un-24 and het-6 were identified as variants of the non-OR form by a DNA transformation assay. The heterokaryon incompatibility function of haplotypes, based on partial diploid analyses, was perfectly correlated with the PCR-based markers at both loci. This correlation indicates that the two loci are in severe linkage disequilibrium in this population sample and may act as an incompatibility gene complex. Southern hybridizations using OR- and PA-derived cloned probes from the region that spans un-24 and het-6 showed that the apparent absence of recombination in this approximately 25-kbp region is associated with low levels of overall sequence identity between the PA and OR forms.