The C–Cl bonds in trichloroethylidene trichlorolactic ester, Cl3CCHOCOCHOCCl3. A 35Cl–NQR single crystal study

By single crystal 35Cl–NQR with a 4π Zeeman spectrometer, the six independent 35Cl-nuclear quadrupole coupling tensors in trichloroethylidene trichlorolactic ester (chloralide) Cl3CCHOCOCHOCC13 have been studied at T=21 °C. The directions of the electric field gradient (EFG) tensor components have been determined. The main axes φzz are within ±0.5° parallel to the C–Cl bound directions. Very small asymmetry parameters in the range 0.005≤η≤0.053 are characteristic for the EFG tensors of Cl bond to carbon in aliphatic systems, and the six nuclear quadrupole coupling constants are found in the range 76.053≤e2qQh−1/MHz≤78.790. The orientations of the principal axes φxx and φyy is explained as due to intramolecular interactions likely of through space origin.