Vibrational spectra and conformations of bis(N-ethyl)nitramine molecule

Abstract

The Raman (50-3200 cm-1) and infrared (50-3200 cm-1) spectra of bis(N-ethyl)nitramine, (CH3CH2)2NNO2, in the liquid and crystal states have been recorded. Optimized geometries and conformational stabilities have been obtained from ab initio calculations utilizing the RHF/6-31G** level. This compound was shown to have two stable conformations with a planar nitramine fragment and the CH3 groups orthogonal to it and located either on the same or on the different sides of it. The computed energy difference between two conformers is 0.57 kcal/mol. (CH3CH2)2NNO2 exists as a mixture of the two conformations in the liquid state, while only the most stable one, with the CH3 groups located on the different sides of the nitramine fragment, remains in crystal state. The vibrational frequencies have been calculated using ab initio scaled force fields, and the vibrational spectra have been interpreted in detail.