Knowledge Bank

The microwave spectra of three isotopic species of chloryl fluoride, $FClO2$, have been measured. They have yielded values for the rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and the dipole moment. The molecule has been shown to have $Cs$ symmetry, and a pyramidal configuration, with chlorine at the apex of the pyramid; the bond lengths and angles were obtained. The structural parameters, quadrupole coupling constants, dipole moment and force field are consistent with a bonding scheme in which a fluorine 2p atomic orbital overlaps with the highest occupied orbital of $ClO2$; there is considerable withdrawal of electron density from this singly occupied antibonding orbital of $ClO2$ toward the fluorine atom.