New gas phase reaction to iodine azide, IN3: microwave spectrum and structure

The unstable molecule iodine azide has been prepared for the first time by a gas phase reaction in a flow system, and the microwave spectra of two isotopic species, a- and b-type, have been measured: the abundant species in the frequency range from 10 to 40 GHz, the I14N15N14Nspecies from 20 to 26 GHz. Rotational constants and centrifugal distortion parameters were obtained. The molecule has been shown to be planar, and the structure was derived. Also, the I-quadrupole coupling constants have been determined. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved