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 Norman C. Craig,
Emeritus
Professor, retired in 2000
Research Interests:
Infrared/Raman
spectroscopy and vibrational analysis
of small fluorocarbons; determination
of equilibrium molecular structures from
the analysis of high-resolution infrared
and microwave spectra and quantum chemical
calculations.
Research focuses on semi-experimental
equilibrium structures of interesting
small molecules such as butadiene, the
isomers of hexatriene, and the isomers
of 1,4-difluorobutadiene. To obtain such
structures a suite of isotopically substituted
molecules must be synthesized and high-resolution
infrared spectra (for nonpolar species)
or microwave spectra (for polar species)
recorded. Ground state rotational constants
are extracted from the detailed analysis
of these spectra. With the aid of quantum
chemical calculations the ground state
rotational constants are converted into
equilibrium rotational constants, i.e.,
for the molecule with all its atoms at
rest, and a structure is fitted. These
structures are accurate to 0.001 Å and
can be used to assess structural responses
to pi-electron delocalization and fluorine
atom substitution. Such structures can
also be compared directly with those
computed by quantum chemistry from first
principles. This work is done in cooperation
with scientists at other institutions
in the U.S. and abroad. Oberlin students
participate in many phases of the work
during the academic year, Winter Term,
and the summers.
Taught:
Physical Chem, General Chem, Chem & Environment
Contact Info:
PH: 440 775 8664
FAX: 440 775 6682
norm.craig@oberlin.edu
Feature article: Research
Award
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BA, Oberlin
PhD, Harvard
Representative Works:
- "Vibrational
Spectroscopy of 1,1-Difluorocyclopropane
(DFCP)-d0, -d2, and –d4; the Equilibrium
Structure of DFCP," Norman C. Craig,
David Feller, Peter Groner, Hong Yuan Hsin*,
Donald C. McKean, and Deacon J. Nemchick*,
J. Phys. Chem. A, 2007, 111, 2498-2506.
- "s-trans-1,3-Butadiene and Isotopomers:
Vibrational Spectra, Scaled Quantum-Chemical
Force Fields, Fermi Resonances and C-H
Bond Properties," Donald C. McKean,
Norman C. Craig, and Yurii N. Panchenko,
J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 8044-8059.
- "Equilibrium Structures for Butadiene
and Ethylene; Compelling Evidence for
Pi-Electron
Delocalization in Butadiene," Norman
C. Craig, Peter Groner, and Donald C.
McKean, J. Phys. Chem. A, 110, 2006,
7461-7469.
- "Analysis of Rotational Structure
in the High-Resolution Infrared Spectrum
and Assignment
of Vibrational Fundamentals of Butadiene-2,3-13C2," Norman
C. Craig, Michael C. Moore*, Amie K.
Patchen*, and Robert L. Sams, J. Mol.
Spectrosc,
2006, 235, 181-189.
- "Cementing the Foundations of
Thermodynamics; Comparison of System-Based
and Surroundings-Based
Definitions of Work and Heat," Eric
A. Gislason and Norman C. Craig, J. Chem.
Therm., 2005, 37, 954-966.
- "Let's Drive 'Driving Force' Out
of Chemistry," J.
Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 827-828.
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