The vibrational spectra of methyl and methyl- d3 nitrite

Abstract

The infrared spectra of methyl and methyl- d 3 nitrite have been observed between 400 and 4000 cm −1 both in the gas phase and in an argon matrix. The very strong absorptions associated with the vibrations of the ONO group have also been observed for the carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 substituted methyl nitrites, produced by the photolysis of the corresponding nitromethane isolated in solid argon. The assignment of individual bands to the cis and trans rotamers has been facilitated by studies of the relative rates of photolysis of the two species trapped in solid argon. The vibrational assignments for the two rotamers are discussed in relation to a least-squares fit of the observed vibrational frequencies to a relatively simple set of valence force potential constants.