A hydrogen bonded complex C₂H₂…HBr isolated and characterized in the gas phase using pulsed-jet, Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

Abstract

A complex formed from ethyne and hydrogen bromide has been isolated and characterized by using a fast-mixing nozzle in conjunction with a pulsed-jet, Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Any possible chemical reaction between the two components when mixed in the usual way was thereby precluded. The rotational constants A, B and C, the quartic centrifugal distortion constants δ_J, δ_Jk and δ_J and the Br nuclear hyperfine coupling constants X_aa and X_bb—X_cc (nuclear quadrupole) and M_bb (spin-rotation) were determined for each of the five isotopomers C₂H₂…H⁷⁹Br, C₂H₂…H⁸¹ Br, C₂H₂…D⁷⁹Br, C₂H₂…D⁸¹Br and C₂D₂…H⁷⁹Br. Interpretations of the spectroscopic constants show that the complex is planar and T shaped in the equilibrium conformation, with HCCH internuclear axis forming the cross of the T and the HBr internuclear axis lying along the C₂ axis of C₂H₂. The H of HBr is closer to the centre (∗) of the π bond of ethyne, and therefore HBr is involved in a hydrogen bond to the π system, in which the distance of H from ∗ is r (∗…H) = 2.469(1) A. The intermolecular stretching force constant is estimated as kσ = 5.38(2) Nm⁻¹ for the species involving a hydrogen bond (C₂H₂…H⁷⁹Br, C₂H₂…H⁸¹Br and C₂D₂…H⁷⁹Br) while this quantity increases to kσ = 5.68(2)Nm⁻¹ for those complexes bound through a deuterium bond (C₂H₂…D⁷⁹Br and C₂H₂…D⁷⁹Br). The opportunity is taken to consider similarities in the properties of complexes within the two series B…HBr and B…HC1 for a range of Lewis bases B, including B = C₂H₂. Some family relationships are identified in the two series.