The molecular structure of selenium oxychloride as studied by electron diffraction

The molecular geometry of selenium oxychloride has been studied by electron diffraction. The internuclear distances (in terms of r_a) are: r(Se-O) 1.612 ± 0.005 Å, r(Se-Cl) 2.204 ± 0.005 Å, r(Cl β O) 3.064 ± 0.012 Å, r(Cl β Cl) 3.295 ± 0.016 Å. The bond angles are ∠Cl-Se-O 105.8 ± 0.7° and ∠ Cl-Se-Cl 96.8 ± 0.7°. The structural parameters of three simple selenium-oxygen compounds are compared with those of their sulphur analogs in terms of the valence shell electron pair repulsion model.