An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of meta-difluorobenzene

The molecular structure of meta-difluorobenzene in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction at room temperature. The carbon ring deviates slightly from D_6h symmetry. The four C-C distances adjacent to the F atoms are 1.384 Å, the two other C-C distances are slightly longer, i.e. 1.405 Å. The C-F and C-H distances are 1.324 and 1.107 Å. The C-C-F valency angle is 119.5°.     

An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of hexamethyldisiloxane

An electron diffraction determination of the molecular geometry of hexamethyldisiloxane has removed much of the uncertainty concerning this structure. The length of the SiO bond and the SiOSi bond angle were determined to be 1.631 ± 0.003 Å and 148 ± 3°, respectively. The experimental data are consistent with a staggered conformation (C_2v symmetry) while a model with twist angles around the SiO bonds of about 30° cannot be excluded. The molecule is probably performing large amplitude intramolecular motion.     

An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of gaseous cyclobutylgermane

The molecular structure and conformation of cyclobutylgermane have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction. Like its counterpart cyclobutylsilane (CBS) it possesses quasi-equatorial and quasi-axial conformers. The most interesting aspect of the structure of CBG is the influence of the germyl group on the ratio of equatorial to axial conformers. The predominance of the quasi-equatorial conformer (ΔG = 3.1(1) kJ mol⁻¹), the near equality of the skeleton C---C bond lengths (C---C = 1.557(3)A) (r_a value) and the values of the puckering angles for the equatorial angles form and the axial one of 25.3(3.1)° and −20.4(3.6)° respectively, all support the predictions made by Jonvik and Boggs concerning the correlation between electronegativity and structural parameters in four-membered rings. From a consideration of these predictions, a comparison of the most prominent structural factors in CBG and cyclobutylsilane indicates that the germanium atom is more electronegative than silicon. This result could be considered as the first structural evidence for the previously postulated inversion of the electronegativity order within group IV.     

An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of 1,2-difluoroethane

The molecular structure of 1,2-difluoroethane in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction at room temperature. Only the gauche conformation was found, the dihedral angle F-C-C-F is 74.5°. The bond lengths r_g(1) are: r(C-C) = 1.535 Å, r(C-F) = 1.394 Å, r(C-H) = 1.13 Å. The valency angles are: α(C-C-F) = 108.3, α(C-C-H) = 108.3. The dihedral angle between the C-C-F and C-C-H planes is 113.6°.     

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.     

An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of gaseous allyl silane

The molecular structure of allyl silane has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction. The experimental radial distribution curve has only four prominent peaks, resulting in serious resolution problems in the structure determination. A single conformer whose dimensions resemble those of related molecules fits the diffraction data. The torsion angle φ_siccc is102 ± 1°, measured from the conformation having Si-C and CC eclipsed.     

An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of methylthionformate in the gas phase

The molecular structure of methylthionformate in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. The CS and O-CH₃ bonds are nearly eclipsed. The dihedral angle between the C-O-C and O-C-S plane is 15.8 ± 2.5°.     

An electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of BIS(trifluoromethyl) monoselenide

The molecular structure of (F₃C)₂Se has been determined in the vapour phase by the sector microphotometer method of electron diffraction. Two structures, differing essentially in the angles of rotation of the CF₃- groups about the C-Se bonds, are in good agreement with the data. The mean C-Se and C-F bond lengths are 1.978 and 1.333 Å, respectively.     

An electron diffraction investigation of the molecular structure of dichloromaleic anhydride

The molecular structure of gaseous dichloromaleic anhydride has been investigated by electron diffraction at a nozzle-tip temperature of 164–170°C. The molecule is planar to within experimental error, but small deviations from planarity corresponding to torsion up to about 10° around the carbon-carbon single bonds cannot be ruled out. Values of the more important r_α distances and angles with estimated 2σ uncertainties are r(CO) = 1.188(2) Å, r(CC) = 1.332(5) Å, r(C-O) = 1.389(3) Å, r(C—C) = 1.495(3) Å, r(C—Cl) = 1.685(2) Å, ∠CC-Cl = 129.4(2)°, ∠C-CO = 128.5(4)° and ∠CC—C = 107.9(2)°. The shortening of the carbonyl bond relative to that in maleic anhydride itself is discussed in terms of a possible general effect of vicinal substitution.     

An electron diffraction determination of the molecular structure of trifluorosilyl isocyanate

The molecular structure of F₃SiNCO has been determined in the vapour phase by the sector microphotometer method of electron diffraction. The data are consistent with an Si-N-C angle of 160.7±1.2°, and Si-F and Si-N bond lengths of 1.553±0.004 and 1.648±0.010 Å respectively; the N-C and C-O bond lengths are strongly correlated with each other. The problems of interpretation of the electron diffraction structure are discussed in the light of a possible low Si-N-C deformation frequency.     

A gas electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of trans-stilbene

The molecular structure of trans-stilbene has been studied by the gas electron diffraction method. Unlike the approximately planar structure with C_i symmetry found for the solid state, the molecule in the gas phase was found to be non-planar and to possess C₂ symmetry. The phenyl groups were found to be rotated ca. 30° about the C-φ bonds. The non-planarity of the molecule is, however, not so large as to seriously influence the resonance energy.     

A gas electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of cis-stilbene

The cis-Stilbene molecule is found to possess C₂ symmetry and may be described as having a propeller-like conformation with the phenyl groups rotated ca. 43° about the C-φ bonds. The deviation from planarity is found to be more extensive than predicted by most theoretical calculations. The steric strain in the molecule is also revealed by large valence angles at the central carbon-carbon double bond (∠CC-C: 129.5°).     

The molecular structure of cis- and trans-1,2-difluoro-ethene: An electron diffraction study

The molecular structure of cis- and trans-1,2-difluoroethene was studied in the gas phase by electron diffraction, using the sector-microphotometer technique. The molecules are planar. For trans-difluoroethene the geometrical parameters are: C-F bond: 1.338(0.003) Å; CC bond: 1.320(0.009) Å; C-H bond: 1.088(0.004) Å, ∠CCF 119.8°(0.2°); ∠CCH: 125° (1.2°). For cis-difluoroethene: C-F bond: 1.332(0.003) Å; CC bond: 1.311(0.008) Å; C-H bond: 1.100(0.003) Å; ∠CCF: 122.5°(0.2°); ∠CCH:127.0 °(2.3°).     

A gas-phase electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of tetravinylsilane

The molecular structure of tetravinylsilane has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction. The radial distribution curve suggests the absence of conformers having vinyl double bonds staggered with respect to the SiC₄ skeleton. Of the eclipsed or approximately-eclipsed conformers, the one with S₄ symmetry gives the best fit with experiment, although a small admixture of a C₁ conformation cannot be ruled out. Least-squares refinement gave the following values for the independent structural parameters (lengths, r_a basis; angles, r_α basis): C-H = 1.118 ± 0.003 Å, CC = 1.355 ± 0.002 Å, Si-C = 1.855 ±0.002 Å, ∠SiCC = 124.0 ± 0.3°, ∠SiCH = 118.4 ± 1.0°, torsion angles CSiCC are 17.5 ± 0.6° from the eclipsed conformation. During the refinement the vibrational amplitudes u and perpendicular amplitude corrections K were held constant at calculated values. The CC bond length provides evidence of interaction between the vinyl π-bonds and the vacant d-orbitals of silicon.     

Gas electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of NbCl4

The structure of the NbCl₄ molecule is studied experimentally by the synchronous electron diffraction and mass spectrometry methods. The model molecular geometries of C_2v, C_3v, D_2d, and T_d symmetries are verified. The advantages of the tetrahedral model over the other models are established. The thermally averaged parameters of the effective configuration of the NbCl₄ molecule are as follows: r_g(Nb?Cl)=2.279(5) Å, l(Nb?Cl)=0.073(2) Å, r_g(Cl?Cl)=3.692(17) Å, l(Cl?Cl)=0.275(11) Å, ∠_g(Cl-Nb-Cl)=108.2(5)°, and δ(Cl?Cl)=0.030(19) Å.