Microwave spectrum of (CH₃)₃CCN-SO₃

Eight rotational transitions of the complex (CH₃) ₃CCN-SO₃ have been recorded using pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and a series of ab initio calculations has been performed. The complex is a symmetric top with free or nearly free internal rotation of the SO₃ and (CH₃)₃CCN subunits. The nitrogen-sulfur bond distance is determined to be 2.394(19) . Calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level/basis, which are in excellent agreement with the experimental results, give a binding energy of 11.0 kcal/mol relative to (CH₃)₃CCN and SO₃. Physical properties of the system, including N-S bond length, N-S-O angle, binding energy, and the degree of electron transfer (obtained from Townes and Dailey analysis of the ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling constant) are compared with those of similar complexes. The proton affinity of the base is a useful parameter for ordering complexes in the series.