The gas phase structures of the isomers of benzene: IV. Hexafluoro-dewar-benzene

Gas phase electron diffraction data for HFDB were analyzed, following conventional procedures, and a structure was deduced for the perfluoro-bicyclo-[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene consistent with its C_2v symmetry. A least squares analysis of the molecular scattering function gave the following r_g values: [-C-C-] = 1.597 ± 0.006 Å, [C-C-] = 1.503 ± 0.002 Å, [-C-C-] = 1.356 ± 0.007 Å, [-C-F](bridge) = 1.331 ± 0.008 Å, [-C-F] (terminal) = 1.323 ± 0.004 Å. The flap angle between the rings is 115.3( ± .7)°. The terminal fluorines are in the planes of the corresponding rings.The most notable feature of the structure is the long C-C bridge bond, which was also observed in hexamethyl-Dewar-benzene. The geometrical features of HFDB are compared with corresponding ones in HMDB, and with perfluoro- cyclobutene as well as with theoretical estimates.