We have characterized the structural and energetic properties of CH3CN-BCl3via computations and matrix-IR spectroscopy. We find two equilibrium structures of the complex via computations. At the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level, the global minimum energy structure has a B-N distance of 1.601 Å, and a binding energy of 12.0 kcal mol(-1). The secondary structure lies 7.1 kcal mol(-1) higher in energy with a B-N distance of 2.687 Å and a binding energy of 4.9 kcal mol(-1). Computational scans of the B-N potential curve using both DFT and post-HF methods indicate that a significant barrier exists between these structures, and that it lies 1 to 2 kcal mol(-1) above the secondary minimum at a B-N distance of about 2.2 Å. We also observed several key, structurally-sensitive IR bands for six isotopic forms of the complex in neon matrices, including: the B-Cl asymmetric stretching band (ν) at 792 cm(-1) and the C-N stretching band (νCN) at 2380 cm(-1) (for the primary isotopomer, CH3C(14)N-(11)BCl3). These frequencies are consistent with computational predictions for the minimum-energy form of the complex. Energy decomposition analyses were conducted for CH3CN-BCl3 and also two related complexes, CH3CN-BF3 and CH3CN-BH3. These provide insight into the trend in Lewis acidity of the BX3 acceptors toward nitriles. Furthermore, these analyses indicate that the barrier along the B-N potential of CH3CN-BCl3 results from Pauli repulsion between the π electrons on the nitrile moiety and the chlorine atoms in BCl3, which is significant at relatively long distances where attractive bonding interactions fail to overcome it.

We have measured several IR bands of FCH2CN-BF3 and ClCH2CN-BF3 in solid nitrogen, argon, and neon. These bands include the B-F asymmetric stretch (νBF(a)), the B-F symmetric stretch (νBF(s)), the BF3 symmetric deformation or "umbrella" mode (δBF(s)), and the CN stretch (νCN). For both complexes, the frequencies of these modes shift across the various media, particularly the B-F asymmetric stretching band, and thus they indicate that the inert gas matrix environments significantly alter the structural properties of FCH2CN-BF3 and ClCH2CN-BF3. Furthermore, the frequencies shift in a manner that parallels the dielectric constant of these media, which suggests a progressive contraction of the B-N distances in these systems and also that it parallels the ability of the medium to stabilize the increase in polarity that accompanies the bond contraction. We have also mapped the B-N distance potentials for FCH2CN-BF3 and ClCH2CN-BF3 using several density functional and post-Hartree-Fock methods, all of which reveal a flat, shelflike region that extends from the gas-phase minimum (near 2.4 Å) toward the inner wall (to about 1.7 Å). Furthermore, we were able to rationalize the medium effects on the structure by constructing hybrid bond potentials composed of the electrostatic component of the solvation free energy and the gas-phase electronic energy. These curves indicate that the solvation energies are greatest at short B-N distances (at which the complex is more polar), and ultimately, the potential minima shift inward as the dielectric constant of the medium increases.