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).     

Electron diffraction study of the molecular structure and conformation of gaseous 2-furoyl chloride

The molecular structure of 2-furoyl chloride has been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction at 86°C. Two distinct conformers were identified, a more stable planar form with the furan oxygen and the carbonyl oxygen syn and a less stable planar (or nearly planar) anti form. Assuming that the two forms differ in their geometries only in the O=C---C---O torsion angles and assuming the furan ring to have C_2v symmetry, the results for some of the distances (r_a) and angles (_a) are: r(C---H) = 1.110(20) Å, r(C=O) = 1.207(6) Å, r(C---O) = 1.378(10) Å, r(C??? = 1.465(13) A, (r(C---C)) (average carbon—carbon distance in the furan ring) = 1.392(8) A Δr(C---C) (difference between single and double carbon—carbon distances in the furan ring) = 0.069 A (assumed), r(C---Cl) = 1.787(6) A, C=C---COCl = 131.6(9)°, C=C---O = 110.9(4)°, C=C---H = 127.7(13.4)°, C---C=O = 125.8(8)° and C---C---Cl = 111.8(6)°. At 359 K the observed amount of the conformer with the oxygen atoms syn was 69.8(14.2)%.     

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.     

Structure and conformational properties of carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride, O=C(N=S(O)F2)2

The molecular structure and conformational properties of O=C(N=S(O)F₂)₂ (carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride) were determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantumchemical calculations (HF/3-21G* and B3LYP/6-31G*). The analysis of the GED intensities resulted in a mixture of 76(12)% syn–syn and 24(12)% syn–anti conformer (ΔH⁰=H⁰(syn–anti)−H⁰(syn–syn)=1.11(32) kcal mol⁻¹) which is in agreement with the interpretation of the IR spectra (68(5)% syn–syn and 32(5)% syn–anti, ΔH⁰=0.87(11) kcal mol⁻¹). syn and anti describe the orientation of the S=N bonds relative to the C=O bond. In both conformers the S=O bonds of the two N=S(O)F₂ groups are trans to the C–N bonds. According to the theoretical calculations, structures with cis orientation of an S=O bond with respect to a C–N bond do not correspond to minima on the energy hyperface. The HF/3-21G* approximation predicts preference of the syn–anti structure (ΔE=−0.11 kcal mol⁻¹) and the B3LYP/6-31G* method results in an energy difference (ΔE=1.85 kcal mol⁻¹) which is slightly larger than the experimental values. The following geometric parameters for the O=C(N=S)₂ skeleton were derived (r_a values with 3σ uncertainties): C=O 1.193 (9) Å, C–N 1.365 (9) Å, S=N 1.466 (5) Å, O=C–N 125.1 (6)° and C–N=S 125.3 (10)°. The geometric parameters are reproduced satisfactorily by the HF/3-21G* approximation, except for the C–N=S angle which is too large by ca. 6°. The B3LYP method predicts all bonds to be too long by 0.02–0.05 Å and the C–N=S angle to be too small by ca. 4°.     

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.     

The vibrational spectra, molecular structure and conformation of organic azides : Part VI. Azidoacetonitrile

Azidoacetonitrile (azidoethanenitrile) has been synthesized and the structure determined by electron diffraction from the vapour. IR spectra have been recorded of the vapour, liquid, solutions, solid at ca. 90 K and of the molecule trapped in argon and nitrogen matrices at 15 K. Raman spectra of the cooled liquid and of the amorphous and crystalline solids have also been obtained.

The electron diffraction results show the conformation to be gauche around the C---N bond with a dihedral angle of 52°(5) from syn and the NNN angle 173°(3) oriented anti to the C---N bond.

The following bond distances (r_a) between the heavy atoms were obtained: r_CN = 115.4(5) pm, r_C---C = 146.5(15) pm, r_C---N = 147.5(6) pm, r_N---N = 124.5(5) pm and r_NN = 113.5(4) pm.

Very large changes in both frequency and intensity have been observed in the vibrational spectra upon crystallization which may be due to intermolecular associations formed by the azido group but which can also be explained by a change of the molecular conformation from only gauche in the vapour and liquid phases to anti in the crystal phase.     

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.     

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.     

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 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 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.     

Conformational and structural analysis of N-N′-bis(4-methoxybenzylidene)ethylenediamine

The Schiff base compound, N-N′-bis(4-methoxybenzylidene)ethylenediamine (C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₂) has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been investigated by X-ray analysis and PM3 method. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a=10.190(1), b=7.954(1), c=10.636(1) Å, β=111.68(1)°, V=801.1(1) ų, Z=2 and D_cal=1.229 Mgm⁻³. The title structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.056 for 2414 reflections [I>3.0σ(I)] by full-matrix anisotropic least-squares methods. The energy profile of the compound was calculated by PM3 method as a function of θ[N1′–C9′–C9–N1]. The most stable molecular structure of the title compound is the anti conformation, which is different in energy by 5.0 and 1.0 kcal mol⁻¹ from the eclipsed conformation I and gauche conformations, (III and V), respectively.     

Raman and infrared spectra, conformational stability, ab initio calculations and vibrational assignments for 2-chloroethyl silane

The infrared (3500–30 cm⁻¹) spectra of gaseous and solid and the Raman (3500–10 cm⁻¹) spectra of liquid with quantitative depolarization ratios and solid 2-chloroethyl silane, ClCH₂CH₂SiH₃, have been recorded. Similar data have been recorded for the Si–d₃ isotopomer. These data indicate that two conformers, trans and gauche, are present in the fluid states but only one conformer, trans, is present in the solid. The mid-infrared spectra of the sample dissolved in liquified xenon as a function of temperature (−55 to −100°C) has been recorded. The enthalpy difference between the conformers has been determined to be 181±12 cm⁻¹ (2.17±0.14 kJ/mol) with the trans rotamer the more stable form. From the isolated Si–H frequencies from the Si–d₂ isotopomer the r_o Si–H distances of 1.484 and 1.483 Å for the trans and 1.481 for the gauche conformers have been obtained. Ab initio calculations have been carried out with several different basis sets up to MP2/6-311+G** from which structural parameters and conformational stabilities have been determined. With all the basis sets the trans form is predicted to be the more stable conformer which is consistent with the experimental results. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities for the carbon analogue.     

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.     

Ab initio structures and vibrational analysis of the isoprene conformers

Complete gradient optimizations of the structures and the calculation of the harmonic force fields of the s-trans(anti) and gauche conformers of isoprene (2-methylbuta-1,3-diene) are reported at the RHF/6-31G level. The dihedral angle of the gauche conformer is found to be 41.0° from the planar s-cis(syn) form. The force fields obtained are refined using scale factors transferred from analogous calculations for trans-butadiene-1,3 and ethane. The direct vibrational problems are solved for both conformers of isoprene. A complete assignment of the experimental vibrational frequencies is given.     

Structural and theoretical studies of Xe(OChF5)2 and [XeOChF5][AsF6] (Ch = Se, Te)

The XeOSeF₅⁺ cation has been synthesized for the first time and characterized in solution by ¹⁹F, ⁷⁷Se and ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy with AsF₆⁻ as its counter anion. The X-ray crystal structures of the tellurium analogue and of the Xe(OChF₅)₂ derivatives have also been determined: [XeOChF₅][AsF₆] crystallize in tetragonal systems, P4/n, a=6.1356(1) Å, c=13.8232(2) Å, V=520.383(14) Å³, Z=2 and R₁=0.0453 at −60°C (Te) and a=6.1195(7) Å, c=13.0315(2) Å, V=488.01(8) Å³, Z=2 and R₁=0.0730 at −113°C (Se); Xe(OTeF₅)₂ crystallizes in a monoclinic system, P2₁/c, a=10.289(2) Å, b=9.605(2) Å, c=10.478(2) Å, β=106.599(4)°, V=992.3(3) Å³, Z=4 and R₁=0.0680 at −127°C; Xe(OSeF₅)₂ crystallizes in a triclinic system, , a=8.3859(6) Å, c=12.0355(13) Å, V=732.98(11) Å³, Z=3 and R₁=0.0504 at −45°C. The energy minimized geometries and vibrational frequencies of the XeOChF₅⁺ cations and Xe(OChF₅)₂ were calculated using density functional theory, allowing for definitive assignments of their experimental vibrational spectra.     

Conformational stability of 1-pentyne from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of liquid rare gas solutions and ab initio calculations

Variable temperature studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm⁻¹) of 1-pentyne, CH₃CH₂CH₂CCH, dissolved in liquid xenon (−55 to −100°C) and liquid krypton (−105 to −150°C) have been recorded. These data indicate that the anti (methyl group trans to the acetylenic group) and gauche conformers have relative concentrations that vary with the temperature, i.e. enthalpy nonzero. Utilizing seven sets of conformer pairs for the xenon solution and ten sets of conformer pairs for the krypton solution, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 50±6 cm⁻¹ (0.60±0.07 kJ/mol) and 45±4 cm⁻¹ (0.54±0.05 kJ/mol), respectively, with the anti conformer the more stable form. Because of two equivalent gauche forms, this conformer is estimated to be in higher abundance at 61±1% in the xenon solution and 62±1% in the krypton solution. Optimized geometries and conformational stabilities have been obtained from ab initio calculations with basis sets 6-31G(d), 6-311+G(d,p), 6-311+G(2d,2p) and 6-311+G(2df,2pd) with full electron correlation by the perturbation method to second order (MP2). All of the calculations predict the gauche rotamer to be the more stable form with a high value of 181 cm⁻¹ from the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculations and a low value of 107 cm⁻¹ from the MP2/6-311+G(2d,2p) calculation. The r_o adjusted structural parameters have been obtained from a combination of the microwave rotational constants and ab initio predicted parameters. The values are compared to the recently reported values from an electron diffraction study where the value for the CC bond distance appears to be too long. The results are discussed and the conformational stability is compared to those obtained for some similar molecules.     

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.     

The molecular structure of gaseous methyl vinyl ether at room temperature, studied by molecular orbital constrained electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy

The gas phase molecular structure of methyl vinyl ether at room temperature has been studied by joint analysis of electron diffraction and microwave data. Constraints on geometrical and thermal parameters were derived from the geometry and force field of the s-cis form, obtained by ab-initio calculations (4–21 G basis set) after complete geometry relaxation. A range of models was investigated that fits all available data (infrared, microwave and electron diffraction). The following r_g/r-parameters were obtained: C=C: 1.337 Å, C(sp²)---O: 1.359 Å, C(sp³)---O: 1.427 Å, : 1.102 Å C=C---O : 127.3° and COC: 116.8°. Experimental r_g---r_e (ab initio) corrections are given for C=C, C(sp²)---O and Csp³)---O.

This investigation demonstrates that molecular orbital constrained electron diffraction is sufficiently reliable and in such a manner that it can be applied to more complicated problems.     

Crystal and molecular structure of Δ-5,6-diphenyl-5-methoxy-1,2,4-triazacyclohexene-3-thione and Δ-4-methyl-5,6-diphenyl-5-ethoxy-1,2,4-triazacyclohexene-3-thione

Condensation of thiosemicarbazide or N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazide with 1,2,8,9-tetraphenyl-3,7-diazanona-1,9-dione in the presence of copper(II) acetate in 96% ethanol leads to Δ⁶-5,6-diphenyl-5-methoxy-1,2,4-triazacyclohexene-3-thione, C₁₆H₁₅N₃OS, or Δ⁶-4-methyl-5,6-diphenyl-5-ethoxy-1,2,4-triazacyclohexene-3-thione, C₁₈H₁₉N₃OS. For C₁₆H₁₅N₃OS the crystal data are monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=9.7780(7), b=8.5120(3), c=18.2210(13) Å, β=100.958(3)°, V=1488.89(16) ų, and Z=4 in agreement with an earlier report. For C₁₈H₁₉N₃OS the crystal data are orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=8.6940(3), b=12.9946(3), c=15.5139(5) Å, V=1752.68(9) ų, and Z=4.