The microwave spectrum,structure and centrifugal distortion constants of 2-chloroacrylonitrile

The microwave spectrum of 2-chloroacrylonitrile has been studied in the 26.5–40 GHz region. A total of 99 a- and b-type rotational transitions have been measured and assigned for CH₂ =C³⁵Cl(CN),yielding values for the rotational constants (in MHz): A = 6973.27, B = 3148.16, C = 2165.95. For CH₂=C³⁷Cl(CN) a total of 53 transitions have been measured and assigned and the rotational constants obtained are (in MHz): A = 6909.35, B = 3081.17, C = 2127.98. The distortion effects have also been studied and the quartic distortion constants have been evaluated. From the observed hyperfine structure, the chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling constants have been obtained. The structure of vinyl cyanide and vinyl chloride can be transferred to account remarkably well for the observed rotational constants.