Detection of Gas-Phase Hydrogentrisulfide, HSSSH

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Abstract
The rotational spectrum of gas phase HSSSH has been recorded for the first time in absorption with the Cologne free-space-cell millimeterwave spectrometer. In the frequency region between 80 and 300 GHz a prominent series of Q-branches has been observed and assigned. The hitherto identified rotational lines unambigously arise from a perpendicular-type spectrum. In addition, successive J lines of the compact Q-branches show no indication of the easily detectable intensity alternation which arises when the molecule possesses an axis of symmetry due to nuclear spin statistical weights. Therefore the geometrical structure of the molecule does not have a C2 axis of symmetry. The present data are not complete enough for a unique structure determination. However on the basis of the present data we can definitely rule out conformations with C2 or C2v symmetry to be responsible for the strongest observed transitions of the spectrum. The molecule is not floppy as predicted from semi empirical MO calculations. On the contrary the conformation observed is rather rigidly locked into one position with no sign of possible internal rotation. We consider a sulfur triangle with the two hydrogen atoms sticking out symmetrically to the same side of the SSS-plane to be the most likely structure.

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