15min:

NICHOLAS R. WALKER, SIMON G. FRANCIS, JOSHUA J. ROWLANDS AND ANTHONY C. LEGON, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, U.K..

A Fourier Transform microwave spectrometer coupled to a laser ablation source has been used to obtain the pure rotational spectra of OCAuI and ¹⁵N₂-CuF. Both molecules are generated via the ablation of a metal rod in the presence of a halogen precursor and are stabilized by supersonic expansion. Both spectra are consistent with linear structures. The rotational constants (B₀, D_J) of OC-AuI have been measured to a high degree of precision permitting a determination of the molecular structure. The nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of the gold and iodine atoms are consistent with trends identified during studies of other OCMX species (M=Cu,Ag,Au; X=F,Cl,Br,I). An interim assignment of the spectrum of ¹⁵N₂-CuF is made on the basis of lines from a single isotopomer. The nuclear quadrupole coupling constant of the copper atom in ¹⁵N₂-CuF is of comparable magnitude to the value obtained in studies of OC-⁶³CuF. Lines in the pure rotational spectrum of ¹⁴N₂-CuF are also presented.