Ground-state rotational spectra of the seven isotopomers H2O⋯35Cl2, H2O⋯37Cl35Cl, H2O⋯35Cl37Cl, D2O⋯35Cl2, D2O⋯37Cl35Cl, HDO⋯35Cl2, and HDO⋯37Cl35Cl of the complex formed between water and dichlorine were observed by pulsed-jet, Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. Rotational constants B0 and C0, centrifugal distortion constants ΔJ and ΔJK, and Cl nuclear quadrupole coupling constants χaa(Clx) and {χbb(Clx)−χcc(Clx)}, where x=i (inner) or o (outer), were obtained via spectral analyses. The spectroscopic constants were interpreted, on the basis of models for the complex, to give the geometry, the binding strength, and the extent of inter- and intramolecular electron transfer on complex formation. The zero-point geometry is defined in terms of the effective values r(O⋯Cli)=2.8479(3) Å and φ=43.4(3)°, where φ is the angle made by the bisector of the HÔH angle with the O⋯Cl internuclear line. The intermolecular stretching force constant kσ=8.0(1) N m−1. Fractions δi=0.005(5) and δp=0.034(3) of an electron were estimated to be transferred from O to Cl and from Cli to Clo, respectively. The geometrical conclusions are supported by ab initio calculations at the aug-cc-pVDZ/MP2 level of theory, with good agreement for φ and r(O⋯Cli). A comparison of the properties of H2O⋯Cl2 with those of H2O⋯HCl provides evidence in support of a recent proposal of a halogen bond B⋯XY that is the analog of the hydrogen bond B⋯HX, where X and Y are halogen atoms.

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Complexes H2O...ClF and H2O...F2 were detected by means of their ground-state rotational spectra in mixtures of water vapour with chlorine monofluoride and difluorine, respectively. A fast-mixing nozzle was used in conjunction with a pulsed-jet, Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer to preclude the vigorous chemical reaction that these dihalogen species undergo with water. The ground-state spectra of seven isotopomers (H2 16O...35ClF, H2 16O...ClF, H2 18O...35ClF, D2 16O... 35ClF, D2 16O...37ClF, HDO...35ClF and HDO...37ClF) of the ClF complex and five isotopomers (H2O...F2, H2 18O...F2, D2O...F2, D2 18O...Fi and HDO...F2) of the F2 complex were analysed to yield rotational constants, quartic centrifugal distortion constants and nuclear hyperfine coupling constants. These spectroscopic constants were interpreted with the aid of simple models of the complexes to give effective geometries and intermolecular stretching force constants. Isotopic substitution showed that in each complex the H2O molecule acts as the electron donor and either CIF or F2 acts as the electron acceptor, with nuclei in the order H2O...ClF or H2O...F2. For H2O...ClF, the angle phi between the bisector of the HOH angle and the O...Cl internuclear line has the value 58.9(16)degrees, while the distance r(O...Cl)= 2.6081(23) A. The corresponding quantities for H2O...F2 are phi = 48.5(21)degrees and r(O...Fi) = 2.7480(27) A, where Fi indicates the inner F atom. The potential energy V(phi) as a function of the angle phi was obtained from ab initio calculations at the aug-cc-pVDZ/MP2 level of theory for each complex by carrying out geometry optimisations at fixed values of phi in the range +/-80degrees. The global minimum corresponded to a complex of Cs symmetry with a pyramidal configuration at O in each. The function V(phi) was of the double-minimum type in each case with equilibrium values phie = +/-55.8degrees and +/-40.5degrees for H2O...ClF and H2O...F2, respectively. The barrier at the planar C2v conformation was V0= 174cm(-1) for H2O...ClF and 7cm(-1) for H2O...F2. For the latter complex, the zero-point energy level lies above the top of the barrier.

Ground-state rotational spectra of the isotopomers H3P⋯79Br35Cl, H3P⋯81Br35Cl, H3P⋯79Br37Cl, H3P⋯81Br37Cl, D3P⋯79Br35Cl, and D3P⋯81Br35Cl, of the phosphine–bromine monochloride complex were observed by the pulsed-jet, Fourier-transform method, incorporating a mixing nozzle to preclude reaction among the component gases. Each isotopomer exhibited a symmetric-top-type spectrum which yielded accurate values of the spectroscopic constants B0, DJ, DJK, χaa (Br), χaa (Cl), Maa (Br), and Mbb (Br) on analysis. Interpretations of the changes in the B0 values with isotopomer showed that the intermolecular bond involves P and Br, with r(P⋯Br)=2.869(1) Å and that the BrCl bond increases in length by ∼0.04 Å on complex formation. Changes in the halogen nuclear quadrupole coupling constants when H3P⋯BrCl is formed lead, with the aid of the Townes–Dailey model, to the conclusion that a fraction δi=0.100(5) of an electron is transferred from P to Br on complex formation, while the polarization of BrCl by PH3 can be viewed as the transfer of 0.128(2)e from Br to Cl, leading to a net change of −0.028(5)e in the population of the 4pz orbital of Br. The complex is only of moderate strength, with an intermolecular stretching force constant kσ=11.5 Nm−1. Values of δi, similarly determined, for the series B⋯BrCl, where B=CO, HCN, H2O, C2H2, C2H4, H2S, NH3, or PH3, are presented. It is shown that the variation of δi with the ionization energy IB of the Lewis base B can be described by an expression δi=Aexp(−bIB). This behavior is compared with that for the corresponding series B⋯ICl.

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