The rotational spectrum of dichlorocarbene, C35Cl2, observed by molecular beam-Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

Abstract

The rotational spectrum of the most abundant isotopomer of dichlorocarbene, C³⁵Cl₂, in its ¹A₁ ground electronic state has been recorded using a molecular beam—Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The CCl₂ was generated by flash pyrolysis in a pulsed free jet expansion using CBr₂Cl₂ or CHCl₂COCl as precursors. 43 hyperfine structure lines of 6 rotational transitions were recorded in the frequency range 8–40 GHz. The analysis of the observed spectrum yielded the rotational constants, the complete ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor, and the nuclear spin-rotation interaction constants. In addition, a refined r₀ structure of CCl₂ was derived.