H3N⋯Ag–Cl: Synthesis in a supersonic jet and characterisation by rotational spectroscopy

The monoammoniate of silver monochloride, H3N⋯Ag–Cl, has been synthesised by laser ablation of metallic silver in the presence of a dilute mixture of NH3 and CCl4 in argon. The rotational spectra of five symmetric-top isotopologues were observed using a pulsed-jet, F-T microwave spectrometer that incorporates a laser-ablation source. Rotational constants B0, centrifugal distortion constants DJ and DJK, and Cl and 14N nuclear hyperfine coupling constants were determined. r0 and rs values of the N–Ag and Ag–Cl internuclear distances are reported and compared with re quantities obtained by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ level of theory.