The microwave spectrum and structure of chlorine isocyanate

The microwave spectra of three isotopic species of chlorine isocyanate, ClNCO, have been measured in the frequency region 8–37 GHz. Spectra have been observed for molecules in both the ground and excited vibrational states, and have yielded values for the rotational constants, inertial defects, centrifugal distortion constants, and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for both chlorine and nitrogen. The molecule has been shown to be planar, with the following internuclear parameters: fx547-1 < (NCO) = 171° 24′ ± 1° 30′, with Cl and O trans. The principal values of the chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor were calculated, and were found to be consistent with the derived structure.