Conformations of dimethoxymethane: matrix isolation infrared and ab initio studies

Conformations of dimethoxymethane (DMM) were studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. DMM was trapped in an argon matrix using an effusive source at 298, 388 and 430 K. Experiments were also done using a supersonic jet source to look for conformational cooling in the expansion process. As a result of these experiments, spectrally resolved infrared features of the ground and first higher energy conformer of DMM have been recorded, for the first time. The experimental studies were supported by ab initio computations performed at HF and B3LYP levels, using a 6-31++G** basis set. Computationally, four minima were identified corresponding to conformers with GG, TG, G+G- and TT structures. The computed frequencies at the B3LYP level were found to compare well with the experimental matrix isolation frequencies, leading to a definitive assignment of the infrared features of DMM, for the GG and TG conformers. At the B3LYP/6-31++G** level, the energy difference between the GG and TG conformers was computed to be 2.30 kcal mol(-1). The barrier for conformation interconversion, TG-->GG level was calculated to be 0.95 kcal mol(-1). This value is consistent with the experimental observation that the spectral features due to the TG conformer disappeared in the matrix on annealing.