Molecular structure of carbonyl fluoride as studied by gas electron diffraction and microwave data

The molecular structure of carbonyl fluoride has been determined by electron diffraction. The results have been used in conjunction with the rotational constants reported by Carpenter in a combined structure analysis. The values so obtained are r_z (C=O) = 1.1717 ± 0.0013 Å, r_z (C-F) = 1.3157 ± 0.0005 Å, and ∠_zF-C-F = 107.71 ± 0.08°. These agree with the corresponding parameters estimated by Carpenter from the rotational constants alone. The effective constants, α₃, representing the cubic anharmonicity of bond stretching vibrations have been estimated.