HIGH-RESOLUTION INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY OF DF TRIMER - A CYCLIC GROUND-STATE STRUCTURE AND DF STRETCH INDUCED INTRAMOLECULAR VIBRATIONAL COUPLING

We present high resolution, infrared laser absorption spectra of (DF)3 in a slit supersonic jet expansion. In contrast to previous structureless near IR spectra of (HF)3, the (DF)3 data reveal clear rotational structure characteristic of a cyclic, 6-membered ''ring,'' and therefore provide the first accurate experimental evidence for the equilibrium geometry of any hydrogen fluoride oligomer beyond the well-studied dimer. Furthermore, the spectra display homogeneous rotational fine structure 2-3 orders of magnitude in excess of what could be anticipated from a single vibrational band. Analysis of this fine structure elucidates a novel IVR mechanism which involves single hydrogen bond cleavage, and consequent opening of the (DF)3 ring on the 40 ps time scale.