Complexes of ammonia molecules and one chloride ion have been studied by photodetachment and IR-photodissociation spectroscopy. For the smallest anionic complex, the stabilisation energy with respect to the bare chloride ion and vibrational frequencies have been determined. Two bands showed a splitting due to rotational branches, which could be represented by simulation. Rotational constants obtained by former ab initio calculations [ P. S. Weiser, D. A. Wild, P. P. Wolynec, E. J. Bieske, J. Phys. Chem. A 104 ( 2000) 2562] are confirmed and rotational constants of a vibrationally excited state are supplied. IR-photodissociation spectra of clusters with up to four ammonia molecules per chloride ion were recorded. (c) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.