Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.119, No.4, 634-640, 2015
Microwave and Quantum-Chemical Study of Conformational Properties and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding of 2-Hydroxy-3-Butynenitrile (HC equivalent to CCH(OH)C equivalent to N)
The microwave spectra of 2-hydroxy-3-butynenitrile, HC CCH(OH)C N, and a deuterated species, HC CCH(OD)C N, have been investigated in the 38120 GHz spectral region. Three rotameric forms, each stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds, are possible for this compound. The hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group is hydrogen-bonded to the pi electrons of the alkynyl group in one of these conformers, to the pi electrons of the cyano group in the second rotamer, and to both of these groups simultaneously in the third conformer. The microwave spectra of the parent and deuterated species of last-mentioned form have been assigned, and accurate values of the rotational and quartic centrifugal distortion constants of these species have been determined. The spectra of two vibrational excited states of this conformer have also been assigned, and their frequencies have been determined by relative intensity measurements. Quantum-chemical calculations at the MP2/cc-pVTZ and CCSD/cc-pVQZ levels were performed to assist the microwave work. The theoretical predictions were generally found to be in good agreement with observations.