The microwave spectrum and molecular conformation of peroxynitric acid (HOONO2)

The rotational spectrum of peroxynitric acid has been investigated in the 40- to 120-GHz region. The spectrum of the ground state is complicated by tunneling of the OH group, which causes a doubling of the asymmetric rotor spectrum. The magnitude of the tunneling splitting is such that it causes Coriolis interactions between the energy levels of the two tunneling states which lead to perturbations in the rotational spectrum. A combined analysis of the a- and b-type pure rotational transitions with the c-type tunneling transitions allows a perturbation-free determination of the rotational constants for the ground state. A similar analysis of the low-lying NO₂ torsional vibration at 145(6) cm⁻¹ has also been carried out. The dipole moments for each state have been determined by analysis of the second-order Stark effect. The molecular structure analysis indicates that all the heavy atoms are planar and only the hydrogen atom is out of the heavy atom plane. The preferred orientation of the hydrogen atom with respect to the plane of the heavy atoms is at an angle ∼106° with respect to the cis conformation.