Alicia O. Hernandez-Castillo Investigating Cyclic Diketone Molecules Using Rotational Spectroscopy

Investigating Cyclic Diketone Molecules Using Rotational Spectroscopy

Diketones are a family of compounds extensively investigated. We have mainly targeted 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione and 1,3-cyclopentanedione. We have acquired the broadband rotational spectrum of these two molecules using both the spectrometer at UC Davis and the one here at HMC. The spectroscopic data has been analyzed with the aid of ab-initio calculations to yield a complete set of molecular parameters. In the processes we have been able to gain insight on the structure of the molecules and compare the subtle differences between having a double bond in the ring and the lack of it