Observation of the pure rotational spectra of trans- and cis-HOCO

Pure rotational spectra of trans- and cis-HOCO have been observed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and the millimeter-wave double resonance technique, where gas phase spectra of the cis-conformer were observed for the first time. These radicals were produced in a supersonic jet by discharging a mixture gas of CO and H(2)O diluted in Ar. The molecular constants including the fine and hyperfine constants have been precisely determined for both conformers. Deuterated analogs have also been observed. The determined r(0) structures agree with these of ab initio calculations. The Fermi contact constants show a difference of the unpaired electron densities on the protons between the two conformers. Intensity of the spectrum for cis-HOCO was compared with that of trans-HOCO, leading to a conclusion that both conformers were produced nearly equally in abundance under the present experimental conditions.