Research paperThe rotational spectrum of CF3ClAr

The microwave spectrum of the van der Waals complex CF3ClAr has been investigated by pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The observed spectra of the 35Cl and 37Cl isotopologues are typical of asymmetric tops, with rotational constants A, B, C = 3373.118(4), 988.2529(4), 879.5788(3) and 3286.66(4), 985.50(3), 871.359(8) MHz, respectively. The Ar atom is almost “L-shaped” with respect to the ClC bond, at a r0 distance of 3.824(2) A from the center of mass (CM) of CF3Cl and with the angle ClCMAr = 81(2)°. The dissociation energy has been estimated to be 2.3 kJ mol−1.