HIGH RESOLUTION INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF THE FLUOROMETHYL RADICAL

$^{a}$Y. Endo, C. Yamada, S. Saito, and E. Hirota, J. Chem. Phys. 79(4), 1983 $^{b}$C. Yamada and E. Hirota, J. Molec. Spec. 116, 1986.Author Institution: JILA and National Institute of Standards and Technology, University of ColoradoThe $CH_{2}F$ radical is an intermediate in the decomposition of various atmospheric species and is also important in free radical addition reactions. Previous work on the $CH_{2}F$ radical has utilized microwave spectroscopy to determine rotational transitions within the ground vibrational state (the symmetric C-H $stretch)^{a}$. Infrared spectroscopic methods have also been used to probe the v3 band (C-F stretch) origin and rotational $constants^{b}$. We have used high resolution $(0.0005 cm^{-1})$ infrared spectroscopy to investigate rovibrational transitions and assign band origins for both the symmetric and asymmetric stretch region of the $CH_{2}F$ radical. Measurements were taken using direct absorption ($sensitivity = 1 \times 10^{-7}$ per root Hz) under slit-jet cooled conditions (20 K). Assignment of the spectrum (up to J=7) has yielded refined lower and upper state rotational and centrifugal distortion constants for this near-prolate top. The ratio of absorption intensities for the symmetric and asymmetric bands provides an interesting comparison to that of the $CH_{2}Cl$ radical, where no asymmetric band was detected. Interpretation of hyperfine structure will also be discussed