Microwave spectroscopy and structures of two conformers of 6-methyl-3-heptyne and three of 2-methylpentane

Joseph A. Fournier, Robert K. Bohn, H. Harvey Michels

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4 Scopus citations

Abstract

From its microwave rotational spectrum, 6-methyl-3-heptyne (MHept, ethyl isobutyl acetylene) has been characterized in two conformations of Cs and C1 symmetry with the opposing alkyl groups arranged syn-eclipsed or nearly so about the C{triple bond, long}C axis. The dominant interaction determining the dihedral angle about the C{triple bond, long}C axis is the small dispersion attraction between the separated ethyl and isobutyl groups. The three lowest energy conformers of 2-methylpentane (MPane), MHept without C{triple bond, long}C, have been characterized from their microwave spectra. MPane has more conformations than MHept because the C3{single bond}C4 bond in MPane has a substantial ethane-like barrier supporting gauche and anti conformations while MHept's tiny C2{single bond}(C3{triple bond, long}C4){single bond}C5 torsional barrier has only a single minimum. Ab initio calculations of both compounds at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level agree with the experimental results.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)145-152
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Molecular Spectroscopy
Volume251
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2008

Keywords

  • 2-Methylpentane
  • 6-Methyl-3-heptyne
  • Ab initio calculations
  • Conformational analysis
  • Microwave spectroscopy

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