Fourier transform IR spectra and structure of 2-substituted 1-nitro- and 1-bromo-1-nitroethenes

Molecular structure and vibrational spectra of 2-trichloromethyl(ethoxycarbonyl)-1-nitroethenes and 2-trichloromethyl(ethoxycarbonyl)-1-bromo-1-nitroethenes were calculated in terms of the density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G*). The experimental FTIR spectra of these compounds in the range from 4000 to 400 cm−1 were interpreted in detail on the basis of the calculation data. 2-Substituted 1-nitro- and 1-bromo-1-nitroethenes were assigned the structure with trans orientation of the nitro and trichloromethyl (or ethoxycarbonyl) groups, and the ethoxycarbonyl derivatives were assumed to exist in equilibrium between s-cis and s-trans conformers.