Quantum chemical intensity determinations of overlapped gas phase infrared bands

The largest source of experimental error in determining gas phase fundamental infrared intensities arises from the separation of overlapped bands. Quantum chemical calculations at the QCISD/cc-pVTZ and QCISD/aug-cc-pVTZ levels were carried out on four simple hydrocarbons and the fluoro- and chloromethanes with the aim of accurate overlapped band separation. Fundamental vibrational intensity results were compared with individual empirical intensity estimates reported for overlapped band systems. Root mean square differences of 3.7 km mol−1 are found between the experimental and QCISD/cc-pVTZ values for nine overlapped bands of the hydrocarbons and 11.8 km mol−1 for the QCISD/aug-cc-pVTZ values for 12 overlapped bands of the fluoro- and chloromethanes. These values correspond to 14% and 18% of the average hydrocarbon and halomethane intensity values. Previous experimental separation errors were estimated to be quite larger, between 20% and 50%. As quantum calculations are continuously being refined one can expect more accurate band separation results in the future. [Display omitted] •Hydrocarbon and fluorochloromethane overlapped band separations.•Quantum chemical band separation error between 14 and 18%•Experimental separation error estimated between 20 and 50%.•High level quantum results for band separation are recommended.