PROPERTIES OF FLUOROCARBONYL PEROXYNITRATE

The synthesis of FC(O)OONO2 is accomplished by the photolysis of a mix ture of (FCO)(2), NO2, and O-2. The pure product is isolated after tra p-to-trap condensation and the removal of byproducts by treatment of t he crude product with O-3 and AsF5. The colorless liquid freezes at -1 05 degrees C; its boiling point is 32 degrees C. At 20 degrees C and a few millibars, FC(O)OONO2 decomposes in the gas phase with a half-lif e of 20 h. FC(O)OONO2 is characterized by vapor pressure measurements, vibrational, F-19 NMR, C-13 NMR and UV spectroscopies as well as by m ass spectrometry. According to the vibrational and NMR spectra, the co mpound exists at room temperature only as a syn conformer. The molecul ar structure of FC(O)OONO2 is determined by gas electron diffraction. The molecule possesses a skew structure with a dihedral angle of phi(C OON)=86.2(14)degrees. The short O-O bond (1.420(6) Angstrom) and the l ong N-O bond (1.514(6) Angstrom) are consistent with the chemical prop erties of this compound. The experimental geometry is reproduced reaso nably well by quantum chemical.