Superhyperfine interactions in Xe-NO2

Microwave spectra of the Xe-129 and Xe-131 isotopes of Xe-NO2 have been recorded using a Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Intermolecular superhyperfine interactions were observed between the Xe nuclear magnetic moment and the unpaired electron on the NO2 radical. These were analysed in terms of a Fermi contact contribution (due to a non-zero electron spin density at the xenon nucleus), a dipole-dipole contribution and an electric quadrupole term (for the Xe-131 isotope only). All these terms are a sensitive probe of distortions to electronic wavefunctions due to intermolecular forces. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.