Molecular beam electric resonance spectroscopy of the nitric oxide dimer

Abstract

Microwave and radiofrequency spectra have been observed for (NO)2 using the technique of molecular beam electric resonance spectroscopy. Precise values have been determined for rotational, nuclear quadrupole coupling and spin-rotation constants of the ground electronic state treated as a singlet state. The values obtained are A = 25829·4803(20) MHz, B = 5614·3093(4) MHz, C = 4605·4396(12) MHz xaa = -4·0652(2) MHz, xbb - xcc = -8·5498(6) MHz caa = 10·4(5) kHz, cbb = 13·8(4) kHz, ccc = 0·8(4) kHz. The electric dipole moment has also been determined: μ = 0·17120(2) D. From these data (NO)2 is interpreted to have a symmetric cis-planar structure with the structural parameters r NN = 2·33(12) A, r NO = 1·15(1) A, ∠NNO = 95(5), 1/2(r NN + r NO) = 2·444(8) A. The quadrupole coupling constants of the nitrogen nuclei and the dipole moment demonstrate that little electron rearrangement occurs on dimer formation. In addition xaa and xbb - xcc indicate that the unpaired π electrons lie in the plane of the dimer imply...