Knowledge Bank

The microwave spectra of three isotopic Ge species of germyl azide, $GeH3N3$, have been assigned. The splittings due to internal rotation of the germyl group have been analyzed yielding a threefold barrier of $86.6(1)cm-1$. An electric dipole moment of 2.58(2) D has been determined from the Stark effect. The following refined structural parameters have been obtained with a fixed and slightly bent azide group; $r(GeN)=1.866(12)\backslash AA,r(GeH)=1.497(8)\backslash AA,(GeNN)=115.9(14)\circ ,HGeH)=112.2(10)\circ$, and a tilt of the symmetric germyl group of $4.0\circ$ away from the azide group. These results will be compared with the structures and barriers in other Group IVA-pscudohalides.