Zero-point average structures of acetyl chloride and acetyl bromide

The zero-point average structures of acetyl chloride and acetyl bromide have been determined by the combined use of their moments of inertia and average distances, obtained by means of microwave spectroscopy and electron diffraction. The r_z parameters determined are as follows: r_z(CO) = 1.185 ± 0.003 Å, r_z(C-Cl) = 1.796 ± 0.002 Å, r_z(C-C) = 1.505 ± 0.003 Å, r_z(C-H) = 1.092 ± 0.005 Å, φ_z(OCCl) = 121.2 ± 0.6°, φ_z(CCCl) = 111.6 ± 0.6°, φ_z(HCH) = 108.8 ± 0.8° and tilt(CH3) = 1.3 ± 1.0°, for chloride; r_z(CO) = 1.181 ± 0.003 Å, r_z(C-Br) = 1.974 ± 0.003 Å, r_z(C-C) = 1.516 ± 0.003 Å, φ_z(OCBr) = 122.3 ± 1.5°, φ_z(CCBr) = 111.0 ± 1.5°, φ_z(HCH) = 109.9 ± 1.1°, tilt(CH₃) = 1.9 ± 1.0°, for bromide. The barriers V₃ to internal rotation have been revised to 1260 and 1256 cal mol⁻¹ for the chloride and bromide, respectively.