Ketenimines Explained

Ketenimines are a group of organic compounds sharing a common functional group with the general structure R¹R²C=C=NR³. A ketenimine is a cumulated alkene and imine and is related to an allene and a ketene.

The parent compound is ketenimine or CH₂CNH. The most recent work by Bane et al. investigates the rovibrational structure of the ν₈ and ν₁₂ bands in the high-resolution FTIR spectrum, complementing the earlier analysis of the pure rotational spectrum. This pair of Coriolis coupled bands provide a rare example where intensity sharing between bands yields sufficient intensity for an otherwise invisible band (ν₁₂).^{[1] [2]}

Notes and References

1. Michael K. Bane . Christopher D. Thompson . Evan G. Robertson . Dominique R. T. Appadoo . Don McNaughton . High-resolution FTIR spectroscopy of the ν8 and Coriolis perturbation allowed ν12 bands of ketenimine . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics . 2011 . 10.1039/C0CP01816C . 13 . 15 . 6793–8 . 21116541 . 2011PCCP...13.6793B .
2. F. J. Lovas . J. M. Hollis . Anthony J. Remijan . P. R. Jewell . Detection of Ketenimine (CH₂CNH) in Sagittarius B2(N) Hot Cores . The Astrophysical Journal . 2006 . 645 . 2 . L137–L140 . 10.1086/506324 . 2006ApJ...645L.137L. free .