The gas phase structure and vibrational spectrum of tetrabromothiophene are
calculated by ab initio methods. Unsealed DFT/B3LYP/TZVP frequencies fit c
onveniently well to the solid phase Raman spectrum and helped to establish
the crystal space group. The unusual fit and the compounds' solidification
into very small, irregularly arranged crystallites are correlated to the sc
reening of the thiophene moiety by the bromine atoms.