Rotational spectroscopy of isotopic oxirane, $c$-C$_2$H$_4$O

Abstract

We studied the rotational spectrum of oxirane in a sample of natural isotopic composition in selected regions between 158 GHz and 1093 GHz. Investigations of the isotopologs with one 13 C or one 18 O were the primary focus in order to facilitate searches for them in space. We also examined the main isotopic species mainly to look into the performance of Watson's A and S reductions both in an oblate and in a prolate representation. Even though oxirane is a rather asymmetric oblate rotor, the A reduction in the III l representation did not yield a satisfactory fit, as was observed frequently earlier for other molecules. The other three combinations yielded satisfactory fits of similar quality among each other; the A reduction in the I r representation required two parameters less than both S reduction fits.