Issue 15, 2015

Bracketing subtle conformational energy differences between self-solvated and stretched trifluoropropanol

Abstract

The intramolecular OH⋯F hydrogen bond in 3,3,3-trifluoropropanol (TFP) exerts a subtle stabilizing effect that, when compared to the non-fluorinated analog, reorders the five distinguishable conformers and widens the gap between the two most stable structures. Here, we combine findings from Raman spectroscopy in supersonic expansions and high-level quantum-chemical calculations to bracket the energy difference between the two most stable TFP structures at 1.7(5) kJ mol−1. The torsional potential energy surface suggests consecutive backbone and OH torsional motions for the conformer interconversion, which are discussed in the framework of supersonic jet cooling as a function of nozzle temperature. The picture of a bistable cold molecule with trans or gauche backbone emerges, in which the OH group controls the energy difference and modulates the high barrier separating the heavy atom frames.

Graphical abstract: Bracketing subtle conformational energy differences between self-solvated and stretched trifluoropropanol

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Dec 2014
Accepted
06 Mar 2015
First published
17 Mar 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015,17, 9899-9909

Author version available

Bracketing subtle conformational energy differences between self-solvated and stretched trifluoropropanol

M. Heger, K. E. Otto, R. A. Mata and M. A. Suhm, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 9899 DOI: 10.1039/C4CP05868B

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