Microwave spectrum, structure, dipole moment, and deuterium nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of the acetylene–sulfur dioxide van der Waals complex

Thirty-three a- and c-dipole transitions of the acetylene–SO2 van der Waals complex have been observed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and fit to rotational constants A=7176.804(2) MHz, B=2234.962(1) MHz, C=1796.160(1) MHz. The complex has Cs symmetry with the C2H2 and SO2 moieties both straddling an a–c symmetry plane (i.e., only the S atom lies in the plane). The two subunits are separated by a distance Rcm=3.430(1) Å and the C2 axis of the SO2 is tilted 14.1(1)° from perpendicular to the Rcm vector, with the S atom closer to the C2H2. The dipole moment of the complex is 1.683(5) D. The deuterium nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure was resolved for several transitions in both C2HD⋅SO2 and C2D2⋅SO2. A lower limit for the barrier to internal rotation of the C2H2 was estimated to be 150 cm−1 from the absence of tunneling splittings. The binding energy was estimated by the pseudo-diatomic model as 2.1 kcal/mol. A distributed multipole analysis was investigated to rationalize the structure and binding of the complex.