Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
Non-bonding interactions and internal dynamics in CH2F2···H2CO: a rotational and model calculations study
Qian Gou1, Gang Feng, Luca Evangelisti
1Department of Chemistry, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy.
Researchers studied the difluoromethane-formaldehyde complex using microwave spectroscopy. They determined the internal rotation barrier of formaldehyde within the complex to be 180(10) cm⁻¹.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Molecular Spectroscopy
- Supramolecular Chemistry
Background:
- Understanding non-covalent interactions is crucial in chemistry.
- Weak hydrogen bonds play a significant role in molecular complex formation.
- Spectroscopic techniques provide detailed insights into molecular structures and dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and dynamics of the 1:1 difluoromethane-formaldehyde complex.
- To determine the hydrogen bonding interactions within the complex.
- To quantify the internal rotation barrier of the formaldehyde moiety.
Main Methods:
- Pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy was employed.
- Observation and assignment of rotational transitions for three isotopologues.
- Analysis of spectral splitting due to internal rotation.
Main Results:
- The difluoromethane-formaldehyde complex was characterized.
- Two types of weak hydrogen bonds (C-H···F and bifurcated CH2···O) were identified.
- Rotational transitions showed splitting, indicating internal formaldehyde rotation.
- The barrier to internal rotation was determined to be 180(10) cm⁻¹.
Conclusions:
- The study elucidates the structural and dynamic properties of the difluoromethane-formaldehyde complex.
- Weak hydrogen bonding dictates the complex's geometry.
- The internal rotation of formaldehyde is significantly hindered, with a specific energy barrier.
Related Concept Videos
Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
The hydrogen atoms linked to carbons are arranged in two different axial and equatorial orientations to achieve this staggered...
Conformations of Cyclohexane
The chair form is the most stable and derives its name from its resemblance to the “easy chair.” In the chair conformation, two carbon atoms are arranged out-of-plane — one above and one below, minimizing the torsional strain. In the chair form, the bond angle is very close to the ideal tetrahedral value,...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Fischer Projections

