Laboratory microwave spectroscopy of aluminium cyanide

The pure rotational spectrum of aluminium cyanide (AlCN) between 10 and 21 GHz has been investigated by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Mole cular samples were produced by reacting ablated Al metal with cyanogen pres ent in an Ar supersonic jet. Rotational and centrifugal distortion constant s and Al-27 and N-14 nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and nuclear spin -rotation constants have been determined for the main isotopomer, (AlCN)-Al -27-C-12-N-14. The spectrum of AlCN was found to be much weaker than that o f AlNC thus confirming that AlCN is the less stable of the two isomers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.