Hydrogen bonding: The structure of HF–HCl

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The structure of the hydrogen bonded complex formed between HF and HCl has been determined by molecular beam electric resonance spectroscopy. The molecule HF–HC1 is a slightly asymmetric prolate top. The spectroscopic constants determined from K=0 spectra of several isotopic species are 〈eqQDa〉 for HF D35Cl is 146(15) kHz. The equilibrium atomic arrangement is HF–HCl with the internal proton colinear with the two heavy atoms spaced 2.12 Å from the fluorine atom. The exterior proton is off axis by 50°. The bonding of this complex is discussed with respect to other gas phase complexes and hydrogen halide crystal structures. It appears that a model which involves electron donation from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), of one submolecule to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the other gives a useful qualitative description of complex formation between closed shell species.