To understand the effects of electron withdrawing groups upon the electron distribution in olefins we have characterized the structures of van der Waals complexes formed between a series of chloro- and fluoro-substituted ethylene molecules and the argon atom.  Guided by ab initio calculations, the rotational spectra of three such complexes are collected using both narrow band and broadband pulsed molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometers in the 6 � 22 GHz region.  The spectroscopic constants of each of these complexes are consistent with structures having an out-of-plane argon atom that seeks a region of high electron density.  Tunneling between two equivalent non-planar structures is observed for some complexes.

Following changes in electron distribution in halogenated ethylenes via structure determination of complexes with the argon atom

244th National Meeting (2012)

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