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. Molecular samples were produced by reacting ablated Al metal with cyanogen present in an Ar supersonic jet. Rotational and centrifugal distortion constants and 27Al and 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and nuclear spin–rotation constants have been determined for the main isotopomer, 27Al12C14N. The spectrum of AlCN was found to be much weaker than that of AlNC thus confirming that AlCN is the less stable of the two isomers.