Rotational spectra and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of 4- and 2-iodoimidazole

Pure rotational spectra of 4-iodoimidazole and 2-iodoimidazole have been measured and assigned to determine rotational, centrifugal distortion and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants. Samples of each isomer were laser-vaporised from the surface of a solid target rod using the focussed pulse of a Nd:YAG laser prior to cooling via supersonic co-expansion with argon buffer gas. Microwave spectra were recorded by chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy between 2.0 and 18.5 GHz. Inertial defects of 4-iodoimidazole and 2-iodoimidazole were determined to be 0.0906(1) a.m.u. Ų and 0.0814(2) a.m.u. Ų respectively, consistent with rigid planar geometries for these molecules. The evaluated nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of iodine atoms imply that approximately 1% of an electron is transferred from the iodine lone pair into aromatic π orbitals when iodine is substituted for a hydrogen atom in either the 4- or 2-position. Results are compared with data for other halogenated aromatic molecules and discussed in context of the extent of conjugation across the range.