NORMAL MODES, CORIOLIS COUPLING, AND CENTRIFUGAL DISTORTION IN MOLECULES WITH NEARLY FREE INTERNAL ROTATION: CH3—C≡C—CH3 AND CH3—C≡C—SiH3

Abstract

In 1964 Duncan determined force fields for the molecules CH3—C≡C—CH3 and CH3—C≡C—SiH3 under the assumption that the force constants were not dependent on the torsional angle γ. In the first half of this paper we determine the quantitative effect of adding various γ-dependent force constants to Duncan's force field for CH3—C≡C—CH3. The results lead to complications concerning the symmetry species of the normal coordinates, the magnitude of the Coriolis coupling constants, and the calculation of the energy levels. The possible avoidance of these complications is discussed.In the second half of the paper a formalism is set up relating the rotational and torsional centrifugal distortion constants to the vibrational force field for certain molecules with nearly free internal rotation. Duncan's force field for CH3—C≡C—SiH3 is used to calculate some centrifugal distortion constants for that molecule and for CH3—C≡C—SiD3 on the assumption of completely free internal rotation. Good agreement is obtained between the quantities calculated here and the observed quantities determined by Kirchhoff and Lide.