The normal coordinates of nitromethane-like molecules

Abstract

The form of the vibrational kinetic and potential energy matrices for molecules with structures similar to nitromethane is discussed, and the kinetic energy matrix elements tabulated. Symmetry aspects of the vibrational problem are discussed in terms of the group defined by Longuet-Higgins. The possible forms of the normal coordinates are derived, and their relevance to the associated internal rotation problem indicated.