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 (ν(18)) 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 (ν(18)(A) = 132.4303 cm(-1) and ν(18)(E) = 131.8445 cm(-1)) and of the barrier height [V(3) = 370.7398 (58) cm(-1)] have been obtained. The intensity of the ν(18) 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 μ(c)(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)].