Microwave spectrum,conformation, and quadrupole coupling constants of cyclopentyl chloride

The microwave spectra of the normal and two isotopic species of cyclopentyl chloride have been observed and analyzed. For the normal isotopic species the rotational constants (in MHz) are A = 4547.77 ± 0.01, B = 2290.22 ± 0.01, and C = 2073.34 ± 0.01. From the rotational constant data, it has been shown that the stable molecular conformation is the bent axial form. Quadrupole coupling constants have been measured for the ³⁵Cl nucleus, the values being (in MHz) χ_aa = ?23.70 ± 0.10, χ_bb = 32.33 ± 0.36, and χ_cc = ?8.63 ± 0.37. When transformed to the CCl bond axis system, the coupling constants confirm the axial structure. Extensive vibrational satellite structure, presumably arising from the pseudorotational ring mode with a fundamental frequency of 52 ± 5 cm^?1, has been observed and assigned. No spectral evidence has been observed for a second stable molecular conformer.