Microwave structure for the propiolic acid-formic acid complex

New microwave spectra were measured to obtain rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants for the DCCCOOH⋯HOOCH and HCCCOOD⋯DOOCH isotopologues. Rotational transitions were measured in the frequency range of 4.9-15.4 GHz, providing accurate rotational constants, which, combined with previous rotational constants, allowed an improved structural fit for the propiolic acid-formic acid complex. The new structural fit yields reasonably accurate orientations for both the propiolic and formic acid monomers in the complex and more accurate structural parameters describing the hydrogen bonding. The structure is planar, with a positive inertial defect of Δ = 1.33 amu Ų. The experimental structure exhibits a greater asymmetry for the two hydrogen bond lengths than was obtained from the ab initio mp2 calculations. The best-fit hydrogen bond lengths have an r(O1-H1⋯O4) of 1.64 Å and an r(O3-H2⋯O2) of 1.87 Å. The average of the two hydrogen bond lengths is r_av(exp) = 1.76 Å, in good agreement with r_av(theory) = 1.72 Å. The center of mass separation of the monomers is R_CM = 3.864 Å. Other structural parameters from the least-squares fit using the experimental rotational constants are compared with theoretical values. The spectra were obtained using two different pulsed beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometers.