High resolution rovibrational spectroscopy of chiral and aromatic compounds

The analysis of selected rovibrotionally resolved infrared spectra of some relatively heavy and large polyatomic molecules is reviewed. A short historical summary of the development of high resolution interferometric Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers is given and the possibilities of the currently most highly resolving FTIR spectrometer, which is commercially available in the Bruker IFS 725 series, are discussed. The computational tools necessary to analyse FTIR spectra are described briefly. As examples of rovibrational analysis the spectra of three selected molecules CHCl2F, CDBrCIF, and pyridine (CHN) are discussed. The spectrum of CHCl2F, a fluorochlorohydrocorbon, is of interest for a better understanding of the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere. CDBrCIF is a chiral molecule and therefore the analysis of its rovibrational spectra provides the basis for carrying out further experiments towards the detection of molecular parity violation. The analysis of the pyridine FTIR spectra illustrates the potential of the new generation of FTIR spectrometers in the study of spectra and rovibrotional dynamics of aromatic systems and molecules of potential biological interest.