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.     

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 gas phase molecular structure of silyl formate,determined by electron diffraction

The structure of silyi formate, HCOOSiH₃, in the gas phase is determined by electron diffraction. The principal bond lengths and angles (r_a) are r(Si-O) = 169.5 ± 0.3 pm, r(C-O) = 135.1 ± 0.6 pm, r(C  O) = 120.9 ± 0.7 pm, ∠(C-O-Si) = 116.8 ± 0.5°, ∠(OC-O) = 123.5 ± 0.5°. The silyi group is twisted by 21° away from the planar cis conformation but there is nevertheless a very short (286.5 ±1.0 pm) non-bonded Si ·O contact.     

The molecular structure and conformations of oxepane as determined by gas electron diffraction

The electron-diffraction data for gaseous oxepane, collected at 310 K, can be explained in terms of a 53:47% mixture of two twist-chair conformations. Using the nomenclature of Crerner and Pople [1], the conformations are characterised by q₂ = 0.579 å, q₃ = 0.685 Å, φ₂ = 13.3°, φ₃, = 63.0° and q₂ = 0.511 Å. q₃ = 0.588 Å, ø₂ = 116.1°, ø₃ = 217.6°. The other structural parameters (r_a-structure) are r_CO = 1.419 Å, r_cc = 1.531 Å, r_CH = 1.105 Å, ∠H-C-H = 106.0°, with a mean ring valency angle of 112-0° for the former conformation, and of 116.2° for the latter. There is a good agreement between the experimental geometries and the results from molecular mechanics calculations.     

The structure of cyclopentene oxide determined by gas phase electron diffraction

The r_g structure of cyclopentene oxide has been determined by the simultaneous least squares analysis of electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopic data. The investigation has reaffirmed previous studies indicating that the molecule prefers a boat conformation. The methylene and epoxide flap angles obtained are 152.3±2.1° and 104.7±1.0° respectively. Other structural parameters determined are: r_g (C-H avg.) = 1.120±0.004 Å; r_g (C-C avg.) = 1.538±0.002 Å; r_g (C-O) = 1.443±0.003 Å, and r_g (C-C) = 1.482±0.004 Å for the carbon-carbon bond in the three membered epoxide ring. These results compare favorably with the reported structures of ethylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide. A tentative rationalization of the unusual boat conformation is also offered.     

The structure of 1-methyl-1-silaadamantane as determined by gas phase electron diffraction

The structure of 1-methyl-1-silaadamantane (MSA) has been determined by gas phase electron diffraction. There appears to be somewhat less ring strain at the silicon bridgehead of MSA than in the previously studied 1-methyl-1-silabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (MSBH). The average SiC bond length [1.879(3) Å is comparable to those found in acyclic organosilicon systems. Also, the average CC bond length (1.547(2) Å) is only slightly longer than that observed for adamantane (1.540(2) Å). Valence angles at the silicon bridgehead experience only a moderate perturbation away from their unstrained tetrahedral values. On this basis it is expected that MSA should be somewhat less reactive than MSBH under S_N2 conditions according to the reaction mechanism suggested by L.H. Sommer.     

The molecular structure of 1,1,1-trimethoxyethane in the gas phase as determined by electron diffraction,molecular mechanics calculations and vibratio

The structure of 1,1,1-trimethoxyethane has been studied by electron diffraction in the gas phase. Although this technique cannot discriminate between a GGG (point symmetry C₃) and a TGG (C₁) conformation, vibrational spectra indicate that in the gas phase the C₁ conformer is predominant. Constraints necessary for a satisfactory leastsquares refinement were obtained from molecular mechanics calculations. The molecular geometry as obtained from r_α-refinements is as follows (r_g distances, r_α angles; standard deviations in parentheses): r(C-O central = 1.398 (6) Å, r(C-O)_terminal = 1.431(6)Å, r(C-C) = 1.527 (6) Å, r(C-H) = 1.114 (1) Å, ∠(C-O-C) = 114.0 (4)°, ∠(O-C-H) = 110.7 (4)°; the C-C-O and O-C-0 angles around the central carbon range between 106.6° and 113.1°.     

Molecular structure of 1,1-difluoroethylene as determined by gas phase electron diffraction and microwave data

The structure of 1,1-difluoroethylene was determined, from gas phase electron diffraction data obtained independently in Leiden and Tokyo and the rotational constants of F₂CCH₂, F₂CCHD and F₂CCD₂ derived from the microwave study by Chauffoureaux. The two electron diffraction data agreed without significant discrepancy. From a joint least squares analysis of the diffraction and microwave data, the following r_g bond distances and r_z bond angles were derived: CC = 1.340 ± 0.006 Å, C-F = 1.315 ± 0.003 Å, C-H = 1.091 ± 0.010 Å, ∠C-C-F = 124.7 ± 0.3°, ∠C-C-H = 119.0 ± 0.4°, where the uncertainties represent estimated limits of error.     

The molecular structure of norbornene as determined by electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy

The molecular structure of norbornene has been investigated in the gas phase by combining electron diffraction data with microwave spectroscopic rotational constants. The interatomic distances (r_g) and bond angles were obtained by applying a least squares program to the refined experimental molecular diffraction intensities. The CC bond length was found to be 1.336 ± 0.002 Å while the

) bond length was 1. 529 ± 0.007 Å. Other bond lengths and angles included (IUPAC numbering system was used for norbornene): C₁-C₆ = 1.550 ± 0.020 Å, C₁-C₇ = 1.566± 0.005 Å, C₅-C₆ = 1.556 ± 0.005 Å, C-H_ave. = 1.103 ± 0.003 Å, ∠C₁C₂C₄ = 95.3°. The dihedral angle between planes C₁C₂C₃C₄ and C₁C₆C₅C₄ is 110.8 ± 1.5° while that between C₁C₂C₃C₄ and C₁C₇C₄ is 122.3°. The moments of inertia calculated from ED structure are in good agreement with microwave spectroscopic values.     

The molecular structure of diethyl(silyl)amine in the gas phase,determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of N(C₂H₅)₂(SiH₃) in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. The SiNC₂ skeleton is a shallow pyramid, with angles CNC 114.5(12)° and SiNC 120.9(5)°, and the methyl groups lie so that one CC bond lies close to the CNC plane, but the other is almost perpendicular to it. Other important parameters (r_a) are: r(SiN) 171.5(3), r(CN) 145.6(4), r(CC) 154.3(8) pm, and ∠NCC 113.6(6)°.     

The molecular structure of pyrazine as determined from gas-phase electron diffraction data

The structure of pyrazine (1,4 diazabenzene, C₄H₄N₄) has been determined at 333 K by means of gas-phase electron diffraction. The r_g parameters are as follows: r(C-C) = 1.339 ± 0.002 Å. r(C-N) = 1.403 ± 0.004 Å, r(C-H) = 1.115 ± 0.004 Å. ∠C-C-N = 115.6 ± 0.4°, and ∠C-C-H = 123.9 ± 0.6° (error limits are 2.5σ). At a 10% level the r_α structure does not differ significantly from the structure in the solid state, so long as high order X-ray, results corrected for librational motion are used; otherwise significantly different results are found even at the 1% level. Calculated and observed mean square amplitudes compare favourably.     

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.     

The molecular structure of gaseous 2-cyclopentene- 1,4-dione as determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of gaseous 2-cyclopentene-1,4-dione has been studied by electron diffraction. The molecule is planar to within the experimental error. The results obtained for some of the more important parameters with estimated uncertainties of 2σ are r(C-H) = 1.093 Å (0.013), r(C0) = 1.208 Å (0.002), r(CC) = 1.341 Å (0.005), r(CH-CO) = 1.493 Å (0.005), r(CO-CH₂) = 1.525 Å (0.005), ∠CC-C = 110.4° (0.3), ∠CH-CO = 124.9° (1.1), ∠CC-H. = 118.7° (5.8), ∠H-C-H = 113.2° (8.7) l(C-H) = 0.0853 A (0.0113), l(CO) = 0.0428 Å (0.0021), l(CC) = 0.0448 Å (0.0037) and l(C-C) = 0.0561 Å (0.0029). The structure is discussed in connection with the structures of related molecules.     

The molecular structure and pseudorotational motion of 1,1-difluorosilacyclopetane as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction

The structure of 1,1-difluorosilacyclopentane has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction. The molecule is found to have a barrier of pseudorotion of 2.25(90) kcal mol⁻¹. The potential function has minimum at the twist form (C₂) symmetry and maxima at the envelope forms. The major bond distances (itr)_g) and valence angles obtained from the least-squares refinements with error estimates are as follow: r(C---H) = 1.128(7) A, r(C---C)_av = 1.553(15) A, r(Si---F) = 1.582(6) A, r(Si---C) = 1.853(3) A, (CSiF) = 113.4′(3), CCC = 106°(1), and Tau(C1C2C3C4) = 56.0°(32).     

The molecular structure of fluoromalononitrile as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio calculations

The molecular structure of fluoromalononitrile was studied by means of gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum mechanical methods using HF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-311++G(2df,2pd) and DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3PW91/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2pd) and B3PW91/6-311++G(2df,2pd). The r(g) and angle(alpha) structural parameters we obtained from the present analysis are: CC=1.487(5) A, CN=1.157(3) A, CF=1.386(5) A, CH=1.096 A (ass.), angleCCC=106.7(1.0) degrees , angleCCF=108.0(0.7) degrees , angleCCN=177.6(2.0) degrees . Uncertainties in parenthesis are 3sigma.     

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.     

An investigation of the molecular structure of cycloheptanone by gas phase electron diffraction

The electron diffraction data of cycloheptanone, collected at 371 K, can be explained using a model of partial pseudorotation, with the symmetrical twist—chair as the mean structure. Ther_g, r_α-structure is characterized by r(C-C) = 1.536 Å, r(C=O) = 1.219 Å, r(C-H) = 1.124 Å, xxxCC(sp²)C = 117.3°, xxx(CCC = 115.5° and xxx(HCH = 103.2°. Approximate values for the constants of the pseudorotation potential are included.