ANALYSIS OF THE $\nu_2$ BAND OF THE FCO$_2$ RADICAL: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Abstract

Kolesnikova, Varga, Beckers, Simeckova, Zelinger, Nova Striteska, Kania, Willner, and Urban, J. Chem Phys 128, 224 (2008)Author Institution: Laboratoire Inter Universitaire des Systemes Atmospheriques; CNRS, Universites Paris 12 et 7, 61 Av du General de Gaulle, 94010 Creteil; Cedex France; VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of; Safety Engineering, Lum\irova 13, CZ-70030, Ostrava 3 - Vyskovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Thermomechanics, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejskova 5; CZ-18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic; Inorg. Chemistry, University of Wuppertal, D-42119 Wuppertal, GERMANY; J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical; Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejskova 3, CZ-18223 Prague 8; Czech Republic; VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty; of Safety Engineering, Lum\irova 13, CZ-70030, Ostrava 3 - Vyskovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Thermomechanics, v.v.i, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejskova 5; CZ-18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic.The unique fluoroformyloxyl radical (FCO$_2$) is assumed to participate in atmospheric processes such as the degradation of hydrofluorocarbons that have been considered as chlorofluorocarbon substitutes. Despite this atmospheric interest, the molecular and spectroscopic properties of FCO$_2$ have not yet sufficiently been explored. The high resolution FT IR gas phase spectrum of the fluoroformyloxyl (FCO$_2$) radical was recorded in the 650 - 1500~cm$^{-1}$ spectral range at the University of Wuppertal. Using this spectrum and the ground state parameters achieved recently we carried out the first high resolution study of the $\nu_2$ $A$-type band (C-F stretching mode) centered at 970.209 cm$^{-1}$. The analysis was difficult because the band is congested. In addition the spin doublets are difficult to identify except for high K$_a$ values. However, we could take advantage of the fact that only K$_a$=odd values are observable for symmetry reasons. The line position calculation accounts for the spin rotation doubling and for the Fermi-type resonances linking the 2$^1$ and 5$^2$ spin rotation energy levels