Microwave spectrum and molecular structure of the N2–H2O complex

Abstract

The a‐type, K=0 microwave spectrum of the N2–H2O complex has been observed using a pulsed molecular beam Fabry–Perot cavity microwave spectrometer. Seven isotopic species have been studied in the range of 5–23 GHz.The N2–H2O complex exhibits tunneling motions similar to the 1→2 tunneling motion of the H2O–DOD complex which gives rise to four components for each rotational transition. The molecular constants obtained for the ground tunneling (A 1) state of 1 4N2–HOH are: B̄=2906.9252(2) MHz, D J =0.043 486(15) MHz, and e Q q(1 4N)=−4.253(2) MHz. The structure has a nearly linear N–N–HO geometry with a N–H distance of 2.42(4) Å and an OHN angle of 169° [R O–N=3.37(4) Å]. The electric dipole moment along the a principal axis of inertia was determined for the 1 5N2–HOH species with μ a =0.833(3) D.