The molecular structure and conformation of dichlorotetramethyldisiloxane as determined by gas phase electron diffraction

Dichlorotetramethyldisiloxane is studied by gas-phase electron diffraction at room temperature. The least-squares values of the bond distances (r_g) and bond angles () are: r(C---H)=1.084(5) Å, r(Si---O) = 1.624(2) Å, r(Si---C) = 1.852(2) Å, r(Si---Cl) = 2.067(2) Å, SiOSi = 154.0° (1.5), ClSiO = 110.2° (0.8), ClSiC = 109.6°(0.7), HCSi = 111.7°(1.5), OSiC = 110.0°(0.8), τ₁ (zero corresponds to the Si---Cl bond trans to the Si---O---Si linkage) = 78°(6) and τ₂ = 141°(19). A two-conformer model cannot be ruled out.     

Spectres de rotation de la molécule de chlorobenzène : II. Variétés isotopiques multisubstituées et structure géométrique précise

In order to complete the r_s structure of chlorobenzene given in a preceding paper, a variety of isotopic species of this molecule were synthesized and their microwave spectra studied. This made twenty isotopic species available, enabling the determination of the geometrical parameters by a least squares method. Fitting only differences of moments of inertia either for monosubstituted species or to multiply substituted species gave the same result. They hardly differ from the r_o values and agree with the r_s values obtained by the Kraitchman equations. The resulting error limits were reduced, however.

The following structural parameters were obtained, C₁C₂ = 1.399 Å, C₂C₃ = 1.386 Å, C₃C₄ = 1.3976 Å, C₁Cl = 1.7248 Å, C₂H₂ = 1.080 Å, C₃H₃ = 1.081 Å, C₄H₄ = 1.081 Å, C₆C₁C₂ = 120° 16, C₁C₂C₃ = 119°78, C₂C₃C₄ = 120°24, C₃C₄C₅ = 119°80, C₁C₂H₂ = 119°45, C₂C₃H₃ = 119°76.

The structure of the ring differs significantly from C₆ symmetry. The deformation can be regarded as a compression of the position C₁ while the angle of C₂H₂ bond is also changed.     

The molecular structure and conformation of trichloronitromethane as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and theoretical calculations

The molecular structure of trichloronitromethane has been studied in the gas phase using electron diffraction data. The molecules are found to undergo low barrier rotation about the CN bond with a planar CNO₂ moiety in agreement with HF/MP2/B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculations. The experimental data are consistent with a dynamic model using a potential function for the torsion of V = (V₆/2)(1 − cos 6τ). The major geometrical parameters (r_g and ) for the eclipsed form, obtained from least squares analysis of the data are as follows: r(NO₃) = r(NO₄) = 1.213(2) Å, r(CN) = 1.592(6) Å, r(CCl)_av = 1.749(1) Å, Cl₅CN/Cl₆CN = 109. 6°/106.3°(2), O₃NC/O₄NC = 117. 6°/114.1°(4), τCl₅C₁N₂O₃ = 0.0°, and V₆ = 0.20(25) kcal/mol.     

Molecular structure of 4,4′-sulfandiyl-bis-thiophenol from electron diffraction

The molecular structure of 4,4′-sulfanidyl-bis-thiophenol (C₁₂H₁₀S₃) has been determined by gas electron diffraction. Assuming identical geometry and D_2h local symmetry for ---SC₆H₄S--- moieties, the following bond lengths (r_g) and bond angles were obtained: C---H = 1.101 ± 0.005, S---H = 1.388 ± 0.019, (C---C)_mean = 1.400 ± 0.003, (S---C)_mean = 1.778 ± 0.004 Å, C_ar---S---C_ar = 103.5 ± 1.3, C---C(S)---C = 120.4 ± 0.3, C(H)---C(H)---H = 119.1 ± 0.9 and C---S---H = 94.6 ± 3.1°. Two ratational forms were found to reproduce the experimental data, characterized by dihedral angles of the benzene rings with respect to the C_arSC_ar plane; ₁ = 67.8 ± 2.0°, ₂ = 4.5 ± 7.2°, and ₁ = 69.4 ± 2.0δ, ₂ = −26.6 ± 7.1°. Identical signs of ₁ and ₂ indicate that the two benzene rings are rotated in the same direction about the respective S_central---C axes.     

Microwave spectrum, structure, dipole moment and internal rotation of allylsilane

Microwave spectra of allylsilane and its ¹³C and deuterium substituted species have been measured and assigned for the skew isomer. The r_s structure was determined with the aid of several assumptions. Some of the parameters determined are; r(C=C) = 1.328 ± 0.007 Å, r(C---C) = 1.492 ± 0.008 Å, (CCC) = 126.7 ± 0.8°, (CCSi) = 111.6 ± 0.5° and τ(CCCSi) = 106.8 ± 1.1°. Dipole moments and their components were also determined for the CH₂ = CHCH₂SiH₃ and CH₂=CHCH₂SiD₃ species. Hyperconjugation between the C=C π bond and the C---Si σ bond is discussed.     

Molecular structure of acetyl cyanide as studied by gas electron diffraction

The structure of acetyl cyanide has been determined by making joint use of the electron diffraction intensities measured in the present study and the rotational constants reported by Krisher and Wilson. The thermal average bond distances are: r_g(C-H) = 1.116±0.011 Å, r_g(CN) = 1.167±0.010 Å, r_g(C=O) = 1.208±0.009 Å, r_g(=C-C) = 1.477±0.008 Å and r_g(C-C_methyl) = 1.518±0.009 Å. The bond angles in the zero-point average structure (r_av) are: (C_methyl-C=O) = 124.6±0.7°, (C-C-C) = 114.2±0.9°, (C-CN) = 179.2±2.2° and (H-C-H) = 109.2±0.7°. The uncertainties represent the estimated limits of experimental error. The C-C single bond placed between the double and triple bonds is longer than those in vinylacetylene, acrylonitrile and propynal. Other structural parameters are also compared with those in related molecules. The infrared and Raman spectra of this molecule have been measured, and Urey-Bradley force constants have been determined.     

Molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene studied by gas electron diffraction combined with microwave spectroscopic data

The molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene

has been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) combined with microwave (MW) spectroscopic data. Ab initio calculations at the HF/3–21G* level were carried out and used as structural constraints in the data analysis. The torsional vibration of the methyl group was treated as a large-amplitude motion. The structural parameters were determined to be: r_g(S---C₂) = 1.719(2) Å, r_g(C₂=C₃) = 1.370(3) Å, r_g(C₃---C₆) = 1.497(6) Å, r_g(C₂---H) = 1.101(5) Å, CSC = 91.6(2)°, SC₂C₃ = 113.3(5)°, SC₅C₄ = 111.3(3)°, C₂C₃C₆ = 123.2(11)° and C₃C₆H = 112(2)°. The values of r(S---C₂) − r(S---C₅) and r(C₂=C₃) − r(C₄=C₅) were fixed at the 3–21G* value of 0.002Å. Parenthesized values are the estimated limits of error (3σ) referring to the last significant digit.     

3-chloro-1-butene: gas-phase molecular structure and conformations as determined by electron diffraction and by molecular mechanics and ab initio calculations

Gaseous 3-chloro-1-butene has been studied experimentally by electron diffraction (ED) at 20 and 180°C, and at these temperatures, 76(10)% and 62(10)%, respectively, of the most stable conformer i.e. the one having a hydrogen atom eclipsing the double bond, were found. The conformer with the chlorine atom eclipsing the C=C bond was also present. However, from the experimental data it was not possible to establish conclusive evidence for the conformer with an eclipsed CH₃ group. Molecular mechanics (MM) calculations and ab initio calculations using a 4-21 basis set were carried out with complete geometry optimization, and calculated parameters from each of the methods were used in combination with the ED data. Such calculations indicated the existence of all three conformers mentioned above. Least-squares analysis including constraints from the ab initio calculation gave as a result the following molecular structure (r_a distances and ??? angles) for the predominant conformer: r(C=C) = 1.337(6) Å, r(=C---C) = 1.503(4) Å, r(C---CH₃) = 1.522 Å, R(C---Cl) = 1.813(4) Å, <r(C---H)> = 1.089(18) Å, ???C=C---C = 122.9(2.1)°, ???C---C---C = 112.6(2.2)°, ???=C---C---Cl = 109.9(0.2)°, ???Cl---C---CH₃ = 109.3°. = 121.9° and = 110.0(1.3)°. The torsional angles were then τ(C=C---C---Cl> = −119.4° and τ(C=C---C---CH₃) = 120.3(2.1)°. Error limits are 2σ (σ includes estimates of systematic errors and correlations), parameters without quoted uncertainties are dependent or were constrained relative to another parameter. Combining the ED data with MM results yielded parameters consistent with those given above.     

3-Bromo-2-methyl-1-propene: molecular structure and conformation in the gas phase as determined by electron diffraction and molecular mechanics calculation

A gas phase electron diffraction study of 3-bromo-2-methyl-1-propene shows that there is predominantly a gauche conformer present. Data recorded at 20 and 180°C show 4(8) and 5(4)% respectively of a second confomer with a planar heavy atom skeleton. The gauche structural results in terms of r_a distances and angles at 20°C were found to be: r(C---C) = 1.331(9) Å, r(C---CH₂Br) = 1.484(6) Å, r(C---CH₃) — r(C---CH₂Br) = 0.017 Å, (assumed), r(C---Br) = 1.965(6) Å, C=C---CH₂Br = 121.5(0.7)°, C=C---CH₂Br — C=C---CH₃ = 0.7° (constraint from molecular mechanics calculation), C---C---Br = 112.2(0.5)°, torsional ANGLE = 112.5(2.2)°. Uncertainties are given as 2σ, where σ includes uncertainties due to correlation among observations, electron wavelength and other parameters used in the data reduction. The results obtained from the 180°C data agree very well with those given above. The molecular mechanics calculations yield information consistent with the experimental results.     

Molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene studied by gas electron diffraction combined with microwave spectroscopic data

The molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene has been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) combined with microwave (MW) spectroscopic data. Ab initio calculations at the HF/3–21G* level were carried out and used as structural constraints in the data analysis. The torsional vibration of the methyl group was treated as a large-amplitude motion. The structural parameters were determined to be: r_{g(S---C2) = 1.719(2) Å}, r_{g(C2=C3) = 1.370(3) Å}, r_{g(C3---C6) = 1.497(6) Å}, r_{g(C2---H) = 1.101(5) Å}, CSC = 91.6(2)°, SC₂C₃ = 113.3(5)°, SC₅C₄ = 111.3(3)°, C₂C₃C₆ = 123.2(11)° and C₃C₆H = 112(2)°. The values of r(S---C₂) - r(S=C₅) and r(C₂=C₃)-r(C₄ =C₅) were fixed at the 3–21G* value of 0.002 Å. Parenthesized values are the estimated limits of error (3σ) referring to the last significant digit.     

The molecular structure and conformational composition of epichlorohydrin as determined by gas phase electron diffraction

The molecular structure of gaseous epichlorohydrin has been investigated using electron diffraction data obtained at 67°C. The conformational composition at this temperature is such that the molecules exist predominantly in a gauche-2 conformer (where the C---Cl bond is 160° away from the C---O) bond). Refinements showed that 33% (σ = 4) of the molecule exist in the gauche-1 form. The important distances (r_g) and angle () with the associated uncertainties are r(C---H) = 1.095(5) Å, r(C---O) = 1.442(3) Å, r(C---C) = 1.475(8) Å, r(C---C_M) = 1.523(7) Å, r(C---Cl) = 1.788(2) Å, CCO = 114° (1), CCC_M = 119°(1), ClCC = 108.9° (7), and Tau(ClCCO) = −150°(10) (gauche-2) and Tau(ClCCO) = 78° (10) (gauche-1).     

The molecular structure of tetramethoxymethane in the gas phase: an electron diffraction study

The electron diffraction study of tetramethoxymethane showed that in the gas phase the molecule has S₄ symmetry, flattened along the S₄ axis. Central and peripheral C-O bond lengths are different, consistent with considerations based on the anomeric effect. Comparison is made with ab initio calculations on methanediol. The geometrical parameters (r_g(1) structure) are: central C-O bond 1.395 Å; peripheral C-O bond 1.422 Å; C-H bond 1.11 Å; O-C-O angle bisected by the S₄. axis 114.7°; C-O-C angle 114.0°; O-C-H angle 111.9°; methoxy torsional angle 63.1°; methyl torsional angle 48.5°.     

Vibrational spectra and normal coordinate analysis of CF3 compounds Part XLVII. Vibrational spectra, normal coordinate analysis and electron diffraction investigation of CF3SiH3 and its deuterated varieties

The molecular structure of CF₃SiH₃ in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction analysis. Combined with a B₀ value derived from high resolution infrared spectra, this yielded r(SiC), 1.923(3) Å, r(SiH) 1.482(5) Å, r(CF) 1.348(1) Å, FCF 106.7(5)° and HSiH 110.3(10)° (r° values). The gas phase infrared and liquid phase Raman spectra of CF₃SiH₃, CF₃SiH₂D, CF₃SiD₃ have been measured and assigned, and force constants have been calculated by means of a normal coordinate analysis based on 52 experimental frequencies. The weakness of the SiC bond is confirmed by the low f(SiC) value of 2.54 N cm⁻¹. Infrared spectra recorded with a resolution of 0.04 cm⁻¹ at 240 K revealed rotational structure of vibrational bands. Rotational analyses of most parallel and a few perpendicular bands of CF₃SiH₃ and CF₃SiD₃ have been performed. Ground and excited state vibrational parameters have been obtained and used as supplementary data for the determination of the harmonic force field. Strong blending of all bands due to hot band cascades was noted.     

The molecular geometry of a heptacyclotetradecane from gas-phase electron diffraction

Electron diffraction established firmly the structure of a heptacyclo [6.6.0.0^2,6.0^3,13.0^4,11.0^5,9.0^10,14] tetradecane molecule in which two norbornane units are rotated 90° relative to each other and linked by four methine bridges. The longest bond is the ethano bridge (1.586 ± 0.004 Å, r_g) and the methine bridge is considerably shorter (1.528 ± 0.006 Å r_g) than the mean CC bond length of the norbornane unit (1.557 Å). The molecular structure is generally consistent with the geometry of its crystalline di-tert-butoxy derivative as well as with that of gaseous norbornane.     

The gas phase structure of tetrakis(trifluoromethylthio)ethene, CF3S)2C=C(SCF3)2

The geometric structure of (CF₃S)₂C=C(SCF₃)₂ in the vapour phase was determined by electron diffraction. The molecule possesses D₂ symmetry with the S---CF₃ bonds oriented perpendicular to the ethene plane, in alternating directions up-down-up-down. The following skeletal geometric parameters were obtained (r_a distances and angles, experimental uncertainties are 3σ values): C=C = 1.34Å (ass.), C(sp²---S = 1.761(5)Å, S---C(sp³) = 1.832(5)Å, S---C---C = 119.6(4)°, C---S---C = 100.6(13)°, and ø(C=C---S---C) = 90.9(11)°. The gas phase conformation differs considerably from the crystal structure, where the molecule possesses C_i symmetry and the CF₃ groups, which are bonded to cis-standing sulfur atoms, lie on the same side of the ethene plane with dihedral angles ø(C=C---S---C) of 117° and 127°.     

The gas-phase structure of dodecafluorooctahydrothiophene, c-C4F8SF4

The geometric structure of c-C₄F₈SF₄ has been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction. The five-membered ring has the twist form (C₂ symmetry) with a puckering amplitude q = 0.42 (2) Å. The following principle geometric parameters (r_a values) with estimated uncertainties have been derived: (C---C)_av = 1.541(10), S---C = 1.896(7), S---F_e = 1.558(6), S---F_a = 1.594(6) Å, CSC = 90.0(9)°, SCC = 109.1(8)°, CCC = 106.5(12)°, F_aSF_e = 90.5(15)° and F_eSF_e = 87.7(29)°. Vibrational amplitudes for long non-bonded CF and FF distances indicate a high barrier to pseudorotation of the ring.     

Determination of compositions and isomer structures in mixtures of cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethene (ClHC=CHCl) by gas-phase electron diffraction

Using gas-phase electron diffraction it has been demonstrated that a composition of known isomer mixtures can be determined with error limits of about 5%, all relevant structural parameters being refined simultaneously by the least-squares method. If, however, corresponding bond distances and valence angles have erroneously been assigned equal values in the two isomers, a large increase in the least-squares error limits from 5% to 12% is noticed. Apparently innocent assumptions about some of the parameters can lead to incorrect isomer composition and to too small error limits as estimated by the least-squares formulae.

From the reinvestigation of pure cis-1,2-dichloroethene the following bond distances (r_a) and valence angles () were determined: r(C---H) = 1.090(29) Å, r(C=C) = 1.345(6) Å, r(C---Cl) = 1.716(4) Å, C=C---Cl = 123.8(2)°, C=C---H = 119.4(26)°. Error limits are 2σ.     

The molecular structure of N-sulfinyl trimethylsilanamine, (CH3)3SiNSO

The geometric structure of (CH₃)₃Si---NSO in the vapour phase has been determined by gas electron diffraction. The molecule possesses a planar Si---N=S=O skeleton with syn conformation. The Si(CH₃)₃ group staggers the N=S double bond. The following skeletal parameters (r_a distances and angles with 3σ errors limits) were obtained: Si---N 1.750(6)Å, N=S 1.508(5)Å, S=O 1.444(4)Å, Si---N=S 133.9(9)°, N=S=O 122.5(10)°. Ab initio calculations (HF/3−21G*) were performed for H₃Si---NSO and confirm the planar syn structure for sulfinyl silanamines.     

1,1,2,2-tetrabromodisilane: gas-phase molecular structure and conformational composition as determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of 1,1,2,2-tetrabromodisilane has been investigated using gas-phase electron diffraction data obtained at 110°C. At this temperature the molecules exist as a mixture of about equal parts (X = 0.5 ±0.2) of the two conformers with the H---Si---Si---H torsion angle equal to 180° (anti) or 60° (gauche). Assuming that the two conformers differ in their geometries only in the torsion angle φ, some of the important distance (r_a) and angle () parameters are: r(Si---Si) = 2.349(19) Å, r(Si---Br) = 2.205(5) Å, r(Si---H) = 1.485 Å (assumed), Br---Si---Br = 110.1(1.6)°, Si---Si---Br = 107.1(1.2)° Si---Si---H = 108.6° (assumed). The error limits are 2σ. The observed conformational composition (X_anti = 0.5(0.2)) corresponds to an energy difference between the conformers of ΔE = E(gauche) — E(anti) = 0.5 ± 0.6 kcal mol⁻¹, assuming ΔS = Rln2.     

The rotational spectrum of propynyl isocyanide

Propynyl isocyanide, CH₃C₂NC, has been prepared by vacuum pyrolysis of pentacarbonyl-(1,2-dichloropropenyl isocyanide) chromium, (CO)₅Cr–CN–C(Cl)=C(Cl)CH₃, and its ground state millimeter and microwave spectrum has been observed for the first time. r_s structural parameters of this molecule with a C_3v symmetry could be obtained from the rotational constants of several isotopomers: r_(C1–C2)=1.456(2) Å, r_(C2–C3)=1.206(2) Å, r_(C3–N)= 1.316(2) Å, r_(N–C4)= 1.175(2) Å, r_(H–C1)= 1.090(1) Å, >HCC=110.7(4)°. The nitrogen quadrupole coupling constant has been determined to be 878(2) kHz and measurements of the Stark effect allowed to obtain an electric dipole moment of 4.19(3) Debye. The results fit well into a series of related compounds and are in good agreement with data from ab initio calculations.