Infrared Spectra of Zn and Cd Hydride Molecules and Solids

On the nature of bonding in a new boronyl species Zn2(BO)2: a linear four-center two-electron σ bond

The Zn-Zn bond as one of the metal-to-metal bonds in clusters and molecules is of fundamental interest in many areas of natural science. Neutral boronyl can be viewed as a σ radical and is found in boronyl metal complexes. However, a complex with the Zn-Zn bond stabilized by boronyl ligands has not been found so far. Herein, we report on the computational design of the simplest case of such a system: linear D_∞h OBZnZnBO. The structural and electronic properties and chemical bonding on a series of zinc complexes Zn_x(BO)_y (x = 1,2; y = 1,2) with boronyl as ligands have been studied using quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP and PBE0 levels, respectively. For the Zn₂(BO)₂ cluster, the linear D_∞h OBZnZnBO is the global minimum, in which the calculated Zn-Zn bond length of r_Zn-Zn = 2.400 Å at the B3LYP level, which appears to be close to the latest recommended covalent radii (2.40 Å) of the proposed single bond covalent radii of the Zn-Zn bond. Chemical bonding analyses show that D_∞h OBZnZnBO possesses a linear four-center two-electron (4c-2e) σ bond. The σ bond framework has a contribution of Zn orbitals 54% and B orbitals 44%, which involve Zn 4s 20% and 4p 34%, and B 2s 28% and 2p 16%, respectively. Furthermore, the D_∞h HZnZnH and NCZnZnCN clusters also exhibit one linear 4c-2e σ bond due to the secondary contribution from the H s and C sp components, respectively. The linear 4c-2e σ bond greatly stabilizes the dizinc complexes. D_∞h OBZnZnBO is thermochemically stable with respect to the possible formation channel at room temperature, whereas the formation energy of the exergonic channel, 2ZnBO (C_∞v, ²Σ_g) → OBZnZnBO (D_∞h, ¹Σ_g), is evaluated to be -58.75 kcal mol^-1 at the B3LYP level. Thus, D_∞h OBZnZnBO as the first observation of the Zn-Zn covalent bond in zinc complexes with boronyl as ligands may be synthesized in laboratories in the near future.

Molecular Main Group Metal Hydrides

This review serves to document advances in the synthesis, versatile bonding, and reactivity of molecular main group metal hydrides within Groups 1, 2, and 12-16. Particular attention will be given to the emerging use of said hydrides in the rapidly expanding field of Main Group element-mediated catalysis. While this review is comprehensive in nature, focus will be given to research appearing in the open literature since 2001.

Deaggregation of Zinc Dihydride by Lewis Acids Including Carbon Dioxide in the Presence of Nitrogen Donors

Thermally sensitive polymeric zinc dihydride [ZnH₂]_n can conveniently be prepared by the reaction of ZnEt₂ with [AlH₃(NEt₃)]. When reacted with CO₂ (1 bar) in the presence of chelating N-donor ligands L_n = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine (TMPDA), N,N,N',N″,N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA), and 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (Me₄TACD), insertion into the Zn-H bond readily occurred. Depending on the denticity n, formates [(L_n)Zn(OCHO)₂] were isolated and structurally characterized, either as a molecule (L_n = TMEDA, TMPDA, PMDTA) or a charge-separated ion pair [(L_n)Zn(OCHO)][OCHO] (L_n = Me₄TACD). The reaction of [ZnH₂]_n with the mild Lewis acid BPh₃ in the presence of chelating N-donor ligands L_n gave a series of hydridotriphenylborates, either as a contact ion pair [(L₂)Zn(H)(HBPh₃)] (L₂ = TMEDA, TMPDA) or a separated ion pair [(L_n)Zn(H)][HBPh₃] (L_n = PMDTA, Me₄TACD). In the crystal, the contact ion pair [(TMEDA)Zn(H)(HBPh₃)] showed a bent Zn-H-B bridge indicative of a delocalized Zn-H-B interaction. In contrast, a linear Zn-H-B bridge for [(TMPDA)Zn(H)(HBPh₃)] was observed, suggesting a contact ion pair. In THF solution, both complexes show an exchange with free BPh₃ as well as [HBPh₃]^-. DFT calculations suggest the presence of [HBPh₃]^- anion with a highly polarized B-H bond that interacts with the Lewis acidic zinc hydride cation [(L₂)Zn(H)]⁺. The hydridotriphenylborates [(L_n)Zn(H)(HBPh₃)] underwent CO₂ insertion to give (formato)zinc (formoxy)triphenylborate complexes [(L_n)Zn(OCHO)][(OCHO)BPh₃] (L_n = TMPDA, PMDTA, Me₄TACD). For L_n = TMEDA, a dinuclear complex [(L_n)₂Zn₂(μ-OCHO)₃][(OCHO)BPh₃] was isolated. Hydridotriphenylborates [(L_n)Zn(H)(HBPh₃)] catalyzed the hydrosilylation of CO₂ (1 bar) by ⁿBuMe₂SiH in THF at 70 °C to give formoxysilane and (methoxy)silane.

Cyanides, Isocyanides, and Hydrides of Zn, Cd and Hg from Metal Atom and HCN Reactions: Matrix Infrared Spectra and Electronic Structure Calculations

Zinc and cadmium atoms from laser ablation of the metals and mercury atoms ablated from a dental amalgam target react with HCN in excess argon during deposition at 5 K to form the MCN and MNC molecules and CN radicals. UV irradiation decreases the higher energy ZnNC isomer in favor of the lower energy ZnCN product. Cadmium and mercury atoms produce analogous MCN primary molecules. Laser ablation of metals also produces plume radiation which initiates H‐atom detachment from HCN. The freed H atom can add to CN radical to produce the HNC isomer. The argon matrix also traps the higher energy but more intensely absorbing isocyanide molecules. Further reactions with H atoms generate HMCN and HMNC hydrides, which can be observed by virtue of their C−N stretches and intense M−H stretches. Computational modeling of IR spectra and relative energies guides the identification of reaction products by providing generally reliable frequency differences within the Zn, Cd and Hg family of products, and estimating isotopic shifts using to ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopic substitution for comparison with experimental data.

Activation of CO2 by Alkaline-Earth Metal Hydrides: Matrix Infrared Spectra and DFT Calculations of HM(O2CH) and (MH2)(HCOOH) Complexes (M = Sr, Ba)

Reactions of MH₂ (M = Sr, Ba) with CO₂ were explored in pure parahydrogen at 3.5 K using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The formate complex HM(η²-O₂CH) and formic acid complex (MH₂)(HCOOH) were trapped and identified by isotopic substitutions and density functional theory (DFT) frequency calculations. Natural population analysis and the CO₂ reduction mechanism demonstrate that hydride ion transfer from a metal hydride to a CO₂ moiety facilitates the stabilization of such complexes.

Trans Element-Hydrogen Bonds: A Distinctive Difference Between Transition Metals and Main Group Elements

The change in sign of the interaction force constant between element-hydrogen stretching modes of trans-dihydrides of the d block and p block elements is analyzed for the first time. As the transition metal M approaches group 12, the higher energy symmetric trans-H-M-H vibration ν_sym approaches the energy of the antisymmetric vibration ν_asym. Crossing to group 13 elements E, the trans-H-E-H vibration ν_sym increasingly drops below ν_asym. This reversal is attributed to the d orbital that participates in the H-M-H bonding but is nonbonding in the H-E-H compounds. DFT calculations are used to probe the energetics of isoelectronic triatomic [H-M-H]ⁿ⁺ and [H-E-H]^n- to reveal this trend and also to demonstrate that the magnitude of these interactions (ν_gap) increases down groups 11, 12, and 14 but remains fairly constant for group 13. They are also used to show that this reversal is seen in the transition state for hydride transfer to CO₂ from the model compounds trans-NiH₂(porphyrin) and trans-EH₂(porphyrin), E = Si and Ge in their singlet states.

Asymmetric Solvation of the Zinc Dimer Cation Revealed by Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation Spectroscopy of Zn2+(H2O)n (n = 1-20)

Investigating metal-ion solvation—in particular, the fundamental binding interactions—enhances the understanding of many processes, including hydrogen production via catalysis at metal centers and metal corrosion. Infrared spectra of the hydrated zinc dimer (Zn₂⁺(H₂O)_n; n = 1–20) were measured in the O–H stretching region, using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. These spectra were then compared with those calculated by using density functional theory. For all cluster sizes, calculated structures adopting asymmetric solvation to one Zn atom in the dimer were found to lie lower in energy than structures adopting symmetric solvation to both Zn atoms. Combining experiment and theory, the spectra show that water molecules preferentially bind to one Zn atom, adopting water binding motifs similar to the Zn⁺(H₂O)_n complexes studied previously. A lower coordination number of 2 was observed for Zn₂⁺(H₂O)₃, evident from the highly red-shifted band in the hydrogen bonding region. Photodissociation leading to loss of a neutral Zn atom was observed only for n = 3, attributed to a particularly low calculated Zn binding energy for this cluster size.

Multiple d-d bonds between early transition metals in TM2Lin (TM = Sc, Ti) superatomic molecule clusters

The synthesis and application of compounds with Cr-Cr and V-V d-d quintuple bonds (σ, 2π, 2δ) have led to new thinking about whether d-d multiple bonds also exist between early transition metals such as Sc-Sc and Ti-Ti. In this study, by extensive unbiased global search at the density functional theory level, the low-energy structures of 26e and 30e TM2Lin clusters were obtained. Based on the super valence bond (SVB) theory, the prolate double-core structure of TM2Lin clusters was regarded as a superatomic molecule, of which each half was regarded as an open-shell superatom, and the electronic shell-closure was realized by forming multiple bonds between superatoms. Then, the quintuple super bonds (2δ, 2π, σ) of the Li18Ti2, Li20Sc2, [Li17V2]+, [Li17Ti2]- clusters and the triple super bonds (2π, σ) of the Li24Sc2 and Li24Y2 clusters were confirmed via chemical-bonding analysis. This way of forming multiple bonds between early transition metals through superatomic bonding has promoted the experimental synthesis and application of early transition metal multiple bond compounds.

Oxidative Addition of Dihydrogen to Divanadium in Solid Ne: Multiple-Bonded Triplet HVVH and Singlet V2 (μ-H)2

Dinuclear compounds of early transition metals with a high metal-metal bond order are of fundamental interest due to their intriguing bonding situation and of practical interest because of their potential involvement in catalytic processes. In this work, two isomers of V2 H2 have been generated in solid Ne by the reaction between V2 and H2 and detected by infrared spectroscopy: the linear HVVH molecule (3 Σg - ground state), which is the product of the spin-allowed reaction between V2 (3 Σg - ground state) and H2 , and a lower-energy, folded V2 (μ-H)2 isomer (1 A1 ground state) with two bridging hydrogen atoms. Both isomers are characterized by metal-metal bonding with a high bond order; the orbital occupations point to quadruple bonding. Irradiation with ultraviolet light induces the transformation of linear HVVH to folded V2 (μ-H)2 , whereas irradiation with visible light initiates the reverse reaction.

Formation of Short Zn-Zn Bonds Stabilized by Simple Cyanide and Isocyanide Ligands

Cyanogen diluted in argon was reacted with laser ablated Zn atoms to produce the NCZnCN and NCZnZnCN cyanides and higher energy isocyanides ZnNC, CNZnNC, and CNZnZnNC, which were isolated in excess argon at 4 K. These reaction products, identified from the matrix infrared spectra of their -CN and -NC chromophore ligand stretching modes, were confirmed by ¹³ C and ¹⁵ N isotopic substitution and comparison with frequencies calculated by the B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods using the all electron aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The cyanide and isocyanide products were increased markedly by mercury arc UV photolysis, which covers the zinc atomic absorption. The above electronic structure calculations that produce appropriate ligand frequencies for these dizinc products also provide their Zn-Zn bond lengths: CCSD(T) calculations find a short 2.367 Å Zn-Zn bond in the NCZnZnCN cyanide, a shorter 2.347 Å Zn-Zn bond in the 37.4 kJ mol^-1 higher energy isocyanide CNZnZnNC, and a longer 4.024 Å bond in the dizinc van der Waals dimer. Thus, the diatomic cyanide (-CN) and isocyanide (-NC) ligands are as capable of stabilizing the Zn-Zn bond as many much larger ligands based on their measured and our calculated Zn-Zn bond lengths. This is the first example of dizinc complexes stabilized by different ligand isomers. Additional weaker bands in this region can be assigned to the analogous trizinc molecules NCZnZnZnCN and CNZnZnZnNC.

Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) on ZnO at room temperature: Implications for the fundamental model of EPFR generation

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) have significant environmental and public health impacts. In this study, we demonstrate that EPFRs formed on ZnO nanoparticles provide two significant surprises. First, EPR spectroscopy shows that phenoxy radicals form readily on ZnO nanoparticles at room temperature, yielding EPR signals similar to those previously measured after 250°C exposures. Vibrational spectroscopy supports the conclusion that phenoxy-derived species chemisorb to ZnO nanoparticles under both exposure temperatures. Second, DFT calculations indicate that electrons are transferred from ZnO to the adsorbed organic (oxidizing the Zn), the opposite direction proposed by previous descriptions of EPFR formation on metal oxides.

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of [TmBut]ZnH, a monomeric terminal zinc hydride compound in a sulfur-rich coordination environment: access to a heterobimetallic compound

The zinc hydride complex, [Tm^But]ZnH, undergoes insertion of CO₂ and facile protolytic cleavage, of which the latter provides access to heterobimetallic [Tm^But]ZnMo(CO)₃Cp.

Vibrationally resolved photoelectron imaging of Au3H(-)

We report a combined photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopy and density functional theory investigation on the Au3H(-) anion. Transition between the anionic electronic ground state and the neutral electronic ground state is revealed. Vibrationally resolved spectra were recorded at two different photon energies, providing a wealth of spectroscopic information for the electronic ground state of the Au3H. Franck-Condon simulations of the ground-state transition are carried out to assist in the assignment of the vibrationally resolved spectra. The electron affinity and vertical detachment energy of Au3H are measured to be 2.548 ± 0.001 and 2.570 ± 0.001 eV, respectively. Three stretching vibrational modes are determined to be activated upon photodetachment, with the frequencies of 2100 ± 100, 177 ± 10, and 96 ± 10 cm(-1).

Unprecedented reversible redox process in the ZnMFI-H2 system involving formation of stable atomic Zn(0)

In its element: Zn(2+) at the M7 site of MFI-type zeolites activates H(2), via ZnH and OH species, and leads to Zn(0) species. The Zn(0) species returns to its original state, a Zn(2+) ion, upon evacuation of the zeolite at 873 K (see picture). The formation of the Zn(0) species is supported by DFT calculations.

Direct bonds between metal atoms: Zn, Cd, and Hg compounds with metal-metal bonds

The synthesis and characterization of [Zn(2)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(2)], a stable molecular compound with a Zn-Zn bond and the first example of a dimetallocene structure, has opened a new chapter in the organometallic chemistry of zinc and in metallocene chemistry. The existence of two directly bonded zinc atoms demonstrates that the [Zn-Zn](2+) unit, the lightest Group 12 homologue of the well-known [Hg-Hg](2+) ion, can be stabilized by appropriate ligands. Activity in this area has increased enormously in the few years since the determination of the structure of this molecule. Numerous theoretical studies have been devoted to the investigation of the electronic, structural, and spectroscopic properties of this and related compounds, and new metal-metal coordination and organometallic compounds of zinc, cadmium, and mercury have been synthesized and structurally characterized. This Minireview gives an overview of activity in this field during the past three to four years.

Structure and energetics of gaseous HZnCl

The HZnCl molecule has recently been observed both in the gas phase and in argon matrixes, and the complexity of its spectrum has created big discrepancies between experimental and theoretically predicted Zn-H bond distances. In an attempt to resolve the questionable H-ZnCl bond length issue, as well as to study its stability relative to bond breakage, we have investigated at a very high ab initio level its geometric and energetic parameters. At the coupled cluster level of theory [CCSD(T)] with the new correlation-consistent basis sets for Zn by Balabanov and Peterson, and with the inclusion of core/valence and one-electron Douglas-Kroll-Hess relativistic effects, the basis set extrapolated H-ZnCl and HZn-Cl bond lengths have been calculated to be 1.499 and 2.079 A, compared with the experimental estimates of 1.596-1.789 and 2.08346 A, respectively. With the same procedure, the experimentally unknown bond length of ground-state ZnCl has been found to be equal to 2.122 A. As in the free diatomics ZnCl and ZnH, the HZn-Cl bond is stronger than the H-ZnCl bond by about 30 kcal/mol.

Synthesis and characterization of the homologous M-M bonded series Ar'MMAr' (M = Zn, Cd, or Hg; Ar' = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-Pr(i)2)2) and related arylmetal halides and hydride species

The synthesis and structural characterization of the first homologous, molecular M-M bonded series for the group 12 metals are reported. The compounds Ar'MMAr' (M = Zn, Cd, or Hg; Ar' = C(6)H(3)-2,6-(C(6)H(3)-2,6-Pr(i)(2))(2)) were synthesized by reduction of the corresponding arylmetal halides by alkali metal/graphite (Zn or Hg) or sodium hydride (Cd). These compounds possess almost linear C-M-M-C core structures with two-coordinate metals. The observed M-M bonds distances were 2.3591(9), 2.6257(5), and 2.5738(3) A for the zinc, cadmium, and mercury species, respectively. The shorter Hg-Hg bond in comparison to that of Cd-Cd is consistent with DFT calculations which show that the strength of the Hg-Hg bond is greater. The arylmetal halides precursors (Ar'MI)(1 or 2), and the highly reactive hydrides (Ar'MH)(1 or 2), were also synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray crystallography (Zn and Cd) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The arylzinc and arylcadmium iodides have iodide-bridged dimeric structures, whereas the arylmercury iodide, Ar'HgI, is monomeric. The arylzinc and arylcadmium hydrides have symmetric (Zn) or unsymmetric (Cd) mu-H-bridged structures. The Ar'HgH species was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy, but a satisfactory refinement of the structure was precluded by the contamination of monomeric Ar'HgH by Ar'H. It was also shown that the decomposition of Ar'Cd(mu-H)(2)CdAr' at room temperature leads to the M-M bonded Ar'CdCdAr', thereby supporting the view that the reduction of the iodide proceeds via the hydride intermediate.

Zinc-zinc bonded zincocene structures. Synthesis and characterization of Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2 and Zn2(eta5-C5Me4Et)2

While, in general, decamethylzincocene, Zn(C5Me5)2, and other zincocenes, Zn(C5Me4R)2 (R = H, But, SiMe3), react with dialkyl and diaryl derivatives, ZnR'2, to give the half-sandwich compounds (eta5-C5Me4R)ZnR', under certain conditions the reactions of Zn(C5Me5)2 with ZnEt2 or ZnPh2 produce unexpectedly the dizincocene Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2 (1) in low yields, most likely as a result of the coupling of two (eta5-C5Me5)Zn* radicals. An improved, large scale (ca. 2 g) synthesis of 1 has been achieved by reduction of equimolar mixtures of Zn(C5Me5)2 and ZnCl2 with KH in tetrahydrofuran. The analogous reduction of Zn(C5Me4R)2 (R = H, SiMe3, But) yields only decomposition products, but the isotopically labeled dimetallocene 68Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2 and the related compound Zn2(eta5-C5Me4Et)2 (2) have been obtained by this procedure. Compound 2 has lower thermal stability than 1, but it has been unequivocally characterized by low-temperature X-ray diffraction studies. As for 1 a combination of structural characterization techniques has provided unambiguous evidence for its formulation as the Zn-Zn bonded dimer Zn2(eta5-C5Me4Et)2, with a short Zn-Zn bond of 2.295(3) A indicative of a strong Zn-Zn bonding interaction. The electronic structure and the bonding properties of 1 and those of related dizincocenes Zn2(eta5-Cp')2 have been studied by DFT methods (B3LYP level), with computed bond distances and angles for dizincocene 1 very similar to the experimental values. The Zn-Zn bond is strong (ca. 62 kcal.mol-1 for 1) and resides in the HOMO-4, that has a contribution of Zn orbitals close to 60%, consisting mostly of the Zn 4s orbitals (more than 96%).

Infrared Emission Spectra and Equilibrium Structures of Gaseous HgH2 and HgD2

A detailed analysis of the high-resolution infrared emission spectra of gaseous HgH2 and HgD2 in the 1200-2200 cm(-1) spectral range is presented. The nu3 antisymmetric stretching fundamental bands of 204HgH2, 202HgH2, 201HgH2, 200HgH2, 199HgH2, 198HgH2, 204HgD2, 202HgD2, 201HgD2, 200HgD2, 199HgD2, and 198HgD2, as well as a few hot bands involving nu1, nu2, and nu3 were analyzed rotationally, and spectroscopic constants were obtained. Using the rotational constants of the 000, 100, 01(1)0, and 001 vibrational levels, we determined the equilibrium rotational constants (B(e)) of the most abundant isotopologues, 202HgH2 and 202HgD2, to be 3.135325(24) cm(-1) and 1.569037(16) cm(-1), respectively, and the associated equilibrium Hg-H and Hg-D internuclear distances (re) are 1.63324(1) A and 1.63315(1) A, respectively. The re distances of 202HgH2 and 202HgD2 differ by about 0.005%, which can be attributed to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.

The vibration-rotation emission spectra of gaseous CdH2 and CdD2

The vibration-rotation emission spectra of CdH2 and CdD2 molecules have been recorded at high resolution using a Fourier-transform spectrometer. The molecules were generated in a furnace-discharge emission source by reaction of cadmium vapor with molecular hydrogen or deuterium. The fundamental bands for the antisymmetric stretching mode (upsilon3) of CdH2 and CdD2 were detected at about 1771.5 and 1278.3 cm(-1), respectively. In addition, the 002(sigma(g)+)-001(sigma(u)+) and 01 l(pi(g))-010(pi(u)) hot bands were observed for CdH2. Spectroscopic constants were determined for each of the 12 observed isotopologs: 110CdH2, 111CdH2, 112CdH2, 113CdH2, 114CdH2, 116CdH2, 1l0CdD2, 111CdD2, 112CdD2, 113CdD2, 114CdD2, and 116CdD2. The average Cd-H and Cd-D bond distances (r0) were determined to be 1.683028(10) and 1.679161(16) angstroms, respectively.

Zinc and Cadmium Dihydroxide Molecules: Matrix Infrared Spectra and Theoretical Calculations

Laser-ablated zinc and cadmium atoms were mixed uniformly with H2 and O2 in excess argon or neon and with O2 in pure hydrogen or deuterium during deposition at 8 or 4 K. UV irradiation excites metal atoms to insert into O2 producing OMO molecules (M = Zn, Cd), which react further with H2 to give the metal hydroxides M(OH)2 and HMOH. The M(OH)2 molecules were identified through O-H and M-O stretching modes with appropriate HD, D2, (16,18)O2, and (18)O2 isotopic shifts. The HMOH molecules were characterized by O-H, M-H, and M-O stretching modes and an M-O-H bending mode, which were particularly strong in pure H2/D2. Analogous Zn and Cd atom reactions with H2O2 in excess argon produced the same M(OH)2 absorptions. Density functional theory and MP2 calculations reproduce the IR spectra of these molecules. The bonding of Group 12 metal dihydroxides and comparison to Group 2 dihydroxides are discussed. Although the Group 12 dihydroxide O-H stretching frequencies are lower, calculated charges show that the Group 2 dihydroxide molecules are more ionic.

Infrared emission spectra and equilibrium bond lengths of gaseous ZnH2 and ZnD2

A detailed analysis of the high resolution infrared emission spectra of gaseous ZnH2 and ZnD2 in the 800-2200 cm(-1) spectral range is presented. The nu3 antisymmetric stretching fundamental bands of 64ZnH2, 66ZnH2, 67ZnH2, 68ZnH2, 64ZnD2, 66ZnD2 and 68ZnD2, as well as several hot bands involving nu1, nu2 and nu3 were rotationally analyzed, and spectroscopic constants were obtained. Rotational l-type doubling and l-type resonance, local perturbations, and Fermi resonances were observed in the vibration-rotation bands of both ZnH2 and ZnD2, and equilibrium vibrational frequencies (omega1, omega2 and omega3) were estimated. Using the rotational constants of the 000, 100, 01(1)0 and 001 vibrational levels, the equilibrium rotational constants (B(e)) of 64ZnH2 and 64ZnD2 were determined to be 3.600 269(31) cm(-1) and 1.801 985(25) cm(-1), respectively, and the associated equilibrium bond lengths (r(e)) are 1.524 13(1) angstroms and 1.523 94(1) angstroms, respectively. The difference between the r(e) values of 64ZnH2 and 64ZnD2 is about 0.01%, and is mainly due to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.