Rotational spectroscopy of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene

Abstract

The rotational spectra of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene (1,2-DHN), 1,4-dihydronaphthalene (1,4-DHN), and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (1,2,3,4-THN) were measured and analyzed. A single conformation was detected for each molecule. The measurements for the parent isotopologues were extended to include the rotational spectra of all mono-substituted 13C isotopologues for 1,2-DHN and 1,4-DHN. Through the analysis of the experimental spectra, the rotational constants and quartic centrifugal distortion constants were accurately determined. The skeletal structures of 1,2-DHN and 1,4-DHN were derived based on the measured rotational constants. The precise spectroscopic parameters of the three molecules provided in this study enable future exploration of the chemistry of these species in the laboratory and interstellar medium.