13CH3CN, v = 0
Methyl cyanide, 13C on methyl group, v = 0
Species tag 042508
Version2*
Date of EntryMar. 2026
ContributorH. S. P. Müller

The first entry of Dec. 2009 was improved considerably. It now comprises 13CH3CN data in v = 0 along with v8 = 1 and 2, see also e042513.cat and e042540.cat. The fit is described in
(1) H. S. P. Müller, A. Belloche, F. Lewen, and S. Schlemmer, 2026, ACS Earth Space Chem. 10, 578.
In the case of v = 0, the line list includes new measurements employing a sample highly enriched in CH313CN. These are transitions with (partially) resolved 14N hyperfine structure (HFS) splitting between 35 and 108 GHz along with transitions without HFS splitting between 355 and 1087 GHz. Retained in the fit were data from
(2) H. S. P. Müller; B. J. Drouin, and J. C. Pearson, 2009, Astron. Astrophys. 506, 1487.
This work provides data between 339 and 1193 GHz obtained from samples in natural isotopic composition. Also retained in the fit were data from
(3) J. C. Pearson and H. S. P. Müller, 1996, Astrophys. J. 471, 1067;
with data from 303 to 607 GHz along with the HFS split ground rotational transition frequencies near 17866 MHz. The experimental line lists with hyperfine splitting as well as without hyperfine splitting can be accessed with source codes. Please note that the quantum numbers or their format have been adjusted slightly with respect to the initial line file for simplicity and consistency reasons. Transition frequencies may occur for some transitions multiple times. Vibrational identifiers in this and related entries are
0 for v = 0,
2 for v8 = 1, l = –1,
3 for v8 = 1, l = +1,
6 for v8 = 2, l = 0,
7 for v8 = 2, l = +2,
8 for v8 = 2, l = –2.
The purely K-dependent terms A and DK were assumed to agree with those of the main isotopolog, see e041505.cat.
The transition frequencies should be viewed with caution if the calculated uncertainties exceed 0.1 MHz.
14N hyperfine splitting may be resolvable at low values of J and possibly at the highest K. Therefore, a calculation with hyperfine splitting is provided up to J' = 15 (268 GHz). Please note that the partition function does include now the spin-multiplicities of 14N !
Please pay attention to the upper state degenercies. The partition function values below refer to the ground vibrational state only. Vibrational correction factors have been derived in the harmonic approximation.
At low temperatures, it may be necessary to discern between A-13CH3CN and E-13CH3CN. The A state levels are described by K = 3n, those of E state by K = 3n ± 1. The nuclear spin-weight ratio is 2 : 1 for A-13CH3CN with K > 0 and all other states, respectively. The JK = 11 level is the lowest E state level. It is 5.5715 cm–1 above ground.
The dipole moment was assumed to agree with that of the main isotopolog, see e041505.cat.

Lines Listed2054
Frequency / GHz<2000
Max. J113
log STR0-8.7
log STR1-8.7
Isotope Corr. 
Egy / cm–10.0
 µa / D3.9220
 µb / D 
 µc / D 
 A / MHz158099.
 B / MHz8933.3094
 C / MHzB
 Q(500.0)67308.0256
 Q(300.0)31256.6007
 Q(225.0)20297.2509
 Q(150.0)11047.6973
 Q(75.00)3908.1788
 Q(37.50)1387.1412
 Q(18.75)507.4935
 Q(9.375)197.9149
 Q(5.000)87.9446
 Q(2.725)42.6739
detected in ISM/CSMyes


Database maintained by Holger S. P. Müller and Sven Thorwirth, programming by D. Roth and F. Schlöder