15min:
OBSERVATION OF C-H cdots pi INTERACTIONS: MICROWAVE SPECTRA AND STRUCTURES OF THE CH2FX cdotsHCCH (X=F,Cl) WEAKLY BOUND COMPLEXES.

LENA F. ELMUTI, DANIEL A. OBENCHAIN, DON L. JURKOWSKI, AMELIA J. SANDERS, REBECCA A. PEEBLES, SEAN A. PEEBLES, Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920; AMANDA L. STEBER, JUSTIN L. NEILL, BROOKS H. PATE, Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Rd., PO Box 400319, Charlottesville, VA 22904.

With an interest in characterizing C-H cdots pi interactions, CH2F2 cdotsHCCH and CH2ClF cdotsHCCH have been examined by Fourier-transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy. These interactions involve the pi bond in acetylene acting as a hydrogen bond acceptor to both hydrogen atoms of CH2FX. In addition, there is a secondary contact between one hydrogen atom from acetylene and the X atom in the halomethane (X=F in CH2F2, X=Cl in CH2ClF).

Initial assignments for the most abundant isotopologues of both species were completed using the chirped-pulse FTMW \hboxspectrometers at the University of Virginia (CH2ClF cdotsHCCH) and at Eastern Illinois University (CH2F2 cdotsHCCH). Rotational constants \hboxobtained from experiment are in good agreement with those of the most stable orientations predicted by ab initio calculations at the \hboxMP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. Multiple isotopically substituted species for each complex were measured using a Balle-Flygare \hboxcavity FTMW spectrometer at Eastern Illinois University. Spectroscopic parameters for all observed isotopologues will be presented, and a comparison of the C-H cdots pi interactions in these and related complexes will be discussed.