Synchrotron FTIR spectroscopy of weak torsional bands: A case study of cis-methyl formate.

The far infrared spectrum of cis-methyl formate has been recorded on the AILES beamline of the synchrotron SOLEIL using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer coupled to a long path cell. The very weak fundamental band associated with the methyl-top torsion mode (ν18) was observed. The frequency analysis was performed using the 'rho axis method', and the microwave and millimeter-wave data from the literature. A precise determination of the band origins (ν₁₈^A = 132.4303 cm-1 and ν₁₈^E = 131.8445 cm-1) and of the barrier height [V3 = 370.7398 (58) cm-1] have been obtained. The intensity of the ν18 fundamental band was determined to be 3.4 × 10-21 cm-1/(molecule cm-2) at 297 K, equally shared among A-A and E-E transitions, thus leading to a dipole moment component μc(3) equal to 0.0483 D. The results were compared with the ab initio calcula-tions of Senent et al. [Astrophys. J. 627, 567 (2005)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]