The complex HF-BF3 has been examined by ab initio methods and the rota
tional spectra of four isotopic species have been observed via pulsed-
nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The experimental stru
cture places the fluorine of the HF near the C-3 axis of the BF3, with
an intermolecular B-F separation of 2.544(2)Angstrom. The proton is o
ff axis, but rapid vibrational averaging produces a complex which is e
ffectively a symmetric top in the ground vibrational state. The averag
e B- -F--H angle determined from the moments of inertia is 104.1(1)deg
rees. These results are in excellent agreement with the ab initio calc
ulations, which give a binding energy of 3-4 kcal/mol for the complex
and a 2 degrees out-of-plane distortion of the BF3 moiety. Taken toget
her, the results indicate a complex which is essentially weakly bound
in nature, though interestingly, the intermolecular B-F distance is sl
ightly shorter than the sum of reasonable van der Waals radii. The com
plex resembles an incipient donor-acceptor adduct of the kind frequent
ly observed or invoked in solution-phase Friedel-Crafts reactions, and
its relationship to such chemistry is discussed. The experiments were
performed on a newly constructed instrument featuring direct software
-driven control of the pulse timing sequence without the need for home
-built digital electronics. The essential characteristics of the appar
atus are described.