Gas-phase raman spectra of carbon suboxide

The vibration-rotation gas-phase Raman spectrum of carbon suboxide has been obtained for the first time. The spectrum of C₂U₂ can be discussed in terms of a quasilinear molecule with little or no barrier at the linear configuration and possible barriers away from the linear configuration. Using these concepts, most of the problems of the vibrational spectrum can be satisfactorily solved, especially as to the origin of the infrared and, now, Raman bands, which show great intensity losses when carbon suboxide is condensed.