Knowledge Bank

The electronic spectrum of the CHFCl radical was observed between 340-420 nm using one color, mass resolved, 2+1 resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy. The spectrum arises from two-photon resonance with the planar $F¯(3p)(\lambda laser=406.7nm,\nu \infty =49160(20)cm-1)$ and $J(3d)(\lambda laser=361.9nm.\nu \infty =55250(20)cm-1)$ Rydberg states. A third laser photon ionized the radicals. Both states produced the same vibrational constants; $\nu 2$ (C-H deformation) $=1280(30)cm-1,\nu 4$ (C-Cl stretch) = 910(30) $cm-1,\nu 5$ (CFCl scissors)$ = 440(30) cm^{-1},\nu_{6} (OPLA) = 980(30) cm^{-1})$. The REMPI spectrum exhibited $v0\prime \prime =1-6$ hot bands of the CHFCI $(X~2A)$ radical. Modeling of these hot bands with a double-well potential yields the inversion barrier, $Binv=1180cm-1$, and the angle between the F-C-Cl plane and the C-H bond, $\Phi e=42\circ$.