Molecular structure of bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) in the gas phase as determined from electron diffraction data

The molecular structure of bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) has been determined by a sector-microphotometer gaseous electron-diffraction method. The experimental data were found to be consistent with a monomeric square-planar structure. The structural parameters of the chelate were determined as follows: ∠ ONiO = 93.6 ± 1.1°, r_g(Ni-O) = 1.876±0.005A Å, r_g(C-0) = 1.273± 0.007 Å, r_g(C-C_ring) = 1.401 ± 0.010 Å, r_g(C-C_methyl) = 1.504 ± 0.013 Å. The mean amplitudes of vibration and the shrinkage effects were calculated from normal-vibration treatment using the Urey-Bradley force field.     

Molecular structure and conformation of gaseous 2-chloro-3-fluoro-1-propene

2-Chloro-3-fluoro-1-propene has been studied by electron diffraction, and the molecule was found to exist in equilibrium between a syn and a gauche conformation, with the syn conformation as the most stable. The most important structure parameters with standard deviation are: r_g(CC) = 1.338(6) Å,r_g(C—C) = 1.505(5) Å, r_g(C—F) = 1.378(4) Å, r_g(C-Cl) = 1.743(3) Å, ∠CC—Cl = 123.0(7)°, ∠CC—C = 125.6(6)° and ∠C—C—F = 111.2(8)°.A force field was determined by a least-squares refinement to vibrational frequencies. Mean square amplitudes of vibration and perpendicular amplitude correction coefficients have been calculated. The mean square amplitudes of vibration from the electron diffraction data are in very good agreement with the values calculated from the spectroscopic data.     

Molecular structure of bis(acetylacetonato)beryllium in the gas phase as determined from electron diffraction data

The molecular structure of bis(acetylacetonato)beryllium has been determined by gas electron diffraction. The experimental data were found to be consistent with the D_2d model in which the oxygen atoms are arranged tetrahedrally around the central beryllium atom (∠OBeO = 106.0 ± 1.0°). The structural parameters are as follows: r_g(Be-O) = 1.615 ± 0.006 Å, r_g (C-O) = 1.270 ± 0.004 Å, r_g (C-C_ring) = 1.397 ± 0.004 Å, r_g (C-C_meth) = 1.499 ± 0.005 Å. The mean amplitudes of vibration were calculated from the normal-vibration treatment using the modified Urey—Bradley force field     

Molecular structures of propene and 3,3,3-trifluoropropene determined by gas electron diffraction

The structures of propene and 3,3,3-trifluoropropene have been studied by electron diffraction intensities measured in the present study and rotational constants reported in the literature. The following average structures have been determined: For propene, r_g(CC) = 1.342 ± 0.002 Å, r_g(C-C) = 1.506 ± 0.003 Å, r_g(C-H)_vinyl = 1.104 ± 0.010 Å, r_g(C-H)_methyl = 1.117 ± 0.008 Å, ∠(C-CC) = 124.3 ± 0.4°, ∠(CC-H) = 121.3 ± 1.4°, and ∠(C-C-H) = 110.7 ± 0.9°; for trifluoropropene, r_g(CC) = 1.318 ± 0.008 Å, r_g(C-C) = 1.495 ± 0.006 Å, r_g(C-H)= 1.100 ± 0.018 Å, r_g(C-F) = 1.347 ± 0.003 Å, ∠(C-CC) = 125.8 + 1.1°, ∠(C-C-F) = 112.0 ± 0.2°, where the valence angles refer to the r_av structure, and the uncertainties represent estimated limits of experimental error. A simple set of quadratic force constants for each molecule has been estimated. Regular trends have been observed in the CC and C-C bond distances and the C-CC angles in these and related molecules. Significant differences between the CC, C-C and C-F distances and the C-C-F angle in trifluoropropene and in hexafluoroisobutene reported by Hilderbrandt et al. have been indicated.     

The structure of bis(1,1,1,5.5,5-hexafluoro-2,4. pentadionato) copper(II) as determined by gas phase electron diffraction

The r_g structure of bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato) copper(II) has been determined by gas phase electron diffraction. The experimental data were found to be consistent with a D_2h model in which the oxygens from the two ligands are arranged in an essentially square planar configuration about the copper atom (∠OCuO = 90.6° ± 1.2°). It was possible to obtain a precise value for the copper oxygen bond length, r_g = 1.919 ± 0.008 Å, since this distance appeared as an isolated peak in the radial distribution curve. Structural parameters for the ligand (r_g(C-O) = 1.276 ± 0.009 Å, r_g(C-C_ring) = 1.392 ± 0.015 Å, r_g(C-CF₃)= 1.558 ± 0.009 Å and r_g(C-F) = 1.339 ± 0.003 Å), while less precisely determined are, nevertheless, consistent with reported values for related molecules. A model for the rotational isomerism of the four CF₃ groups was invoked in order to explain various features in the radial distribution curve in a region from 2.5 to 5.5 Å.     

An electron diffraction determination of the molecular structures of phosphoryl bromide and thiophosphoryl bromide

Gas-phase electron diffraction structures have been determined for phosphoryl bromide (OPBr₃ thiophosphoryl bromide (SPBr₃Normal coordinate analyses were carried out for the two molecules using a valence force field, and the resulting amplitude terms used for transformations between r_a and r_ga. An unconstrained refinement of the OPBr₃ intensities gives the parameters r_g(PO) = 1.455(7) Å and r_g(PBr) = 2.175(3) Å. The weighted average, geometrically-consistent valence angles derived from the four internuclear distances, r_α, are θ_α(OPBr) = 114.4(2)° and θ_α(BrPBr) = 104.1(2)°. For SPBr₃ a constrained fit to a self-consistent rα structure gives the parameters r_g(PS) = 1.895(4) Å, r_g(PBr) = 2.193(3) Å, θ_α(SPBr) = 116.2(2)°, and θ_α(BrPBr) = 101.9(2)°. Electron diffraction and spectroscopic vibrational amplitudes are reported for both molecules. The electron diffraction structures are compared with those predicted by simple models previously developed to describe main group V trihalides and trihalogen oxides and sulfides. Treatment of valence angles in four-coordinate molecules is found to be the least satisfactory feature of these models.     

An electron-diffraction study of the molecular structure of gaseous perbromyl fluoride and calculation of its force field and vibrational amplitudes

The molecular structure of FBrO₃ has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction. Least-squares refinements of the molecular geometry using fixed spectroscopic amplitudes revealed two geometrical minima. Initially, the amplitudes employed were derived from diagonal force fields obtained by spectroscopic least-squares refinements to fit observed and calculated wave numbers; for each geometry there are two spectroscopic minima. In the lowest geometrical minimum the wave number agreement is poor, however, the introduction of the ∠OBrO/∠FBrO interaction force constant removed the discrepancies; the resulting force field is F(Br-O) = 6.92 ± 0.02 mdyn Å^?1F(Br-F) = 3.22 ± 0.03 mdyn Å^?1, F(∠OBrO) = 1.06 ± 0.02 mdyn Å, F(∠FBrO) = 0.81 ± 0.03 mdyn Å, F(∠OBrO/∠FBrO) = ?0.19 ± 0.02 mdyn Å. In the corresponding geometrical minimum r_g(Br-O) = 1.582 ± 0.001 Å, r_g(Br-F) = 1.708 ± 0.003 Å, r_α(∠OBrO) = 114.9 ± 0.3°, r_α(∠FBrO) = 103.3 ± 0.3°. Perpendicular amplitude correction coefficients, calculated for each force field employed, were used throughout to relate the interatomic distances through the r_α-structure. The geometries of the r_α^o- and r_e-structures are estimated.     

The molecular structure and conformation of acetamides in the vapour phase: Part II. 2-Iodoacetamide

2-Iodoacetamide has been studied by electron diffraction, utilizing a new nozzle construction. A skew conformation with a dihedral angle of 126.3(1.1)° from syn (C-I bond eclipsing the C-N bond), and a gauche conformation with a dihedral angle of 42.3(1.6) both fit the experimental data almost equally well. However, comparison with the X-ray structure and the results for the two models indicate a slight preference for the skew form.The most important structural parameters are: r_g(CO) = 1.222(3)Å, r_g(C-N) = 1.370(3)Å, r_g(C-C) = 1.515(4) Å, r_g(C-I) = 2.160(4) Å, ∠_αOCC = 120.0(6)°, ∠_αNCC = 116.9(4)° and ∠_αCCl = 117.3(4)°. Parenthesized values are one standard deviation.     

Molecular structures of acetyl fluoride and acetyl iodide

The molecular structures of acetyl fluoride and acetyl iodide have been determined by making use of the average distances obtained in the present study together with the moments of inertia reported in the literature. The large amplitude theory for a molecule with an internal top was used in the joint analysis. The thermal-average values of internuclear distances r_g and the bond angles in the zero-point average structure Φ_z are as follows: r_g(C-O) = 1.185 ±0.002 $\text{}\text{?}$rA, r_g(C-F) = 1.362± 0.002 Å, r_g(C-C) = 1.505±0.002 Å, r_g(C-H) = 1.101 ±0.004 Å, Φ_z(OCF) = 120.7°±0.4°,Φ_z(CCF) = 110.5° ± 0.5°, Φ_z(HCH) = 109.3°±0.6° tilt(CH₃) = 0.1°±1°, for acetyl fluoride; r_g(C=O) = 1.198±0.013 $\text{}\text{?}$rA, r_g(C-I) = 2.217±0.009 Å, r_g(C-C) = 1.492±0.015 $\text{}\text{?}$rA, r_g(C-H) = 1.101 ± 0.004 Å, Φ_z(OCI) = 119.5°± 0.8°,Φ_z(CCI) = 111.7°±0.9°, Φ_z(HCH) = 110.8°±0.8° and tilt(CH₃) = 1.7°+5.4° for acetyl iodide. The uncertainties represent the estimated limits of error. The barriers V₃ to internal rotation have been reanalyzed making use of the effective moments of inertia of the methyl top estimated on the basis of the large amplitude theory and resulted in 1039 and 1176 cal mol^?1 for acetyl fluoride and acetyl iodide, respectively. The structure parameters have been compared with those of other CH₃COX (X = Cl, Br, H, CH₃) type molecules.     

Molecular structure of carbonyl bromide as studied by gas electron diffraction

The molecular structure of COBr₂ has been determined as follows by an analysis of electron diffraction intensity: r_g(CO) = 1.178 ± 0.009 Å, r_g(C-Br) = 1.923 ± 0.005 Å and θ°_α(Br-C-Br) = 112.3 ± 0.4°. The uncertainties represent estimated limits of error. The observed systematic trends in the bond lengths and bond angles in carbonyl and thiocarbonyl halides are discussed.     

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°.     

Structure and conformation of 1,3-dithlane: an electron diffraction study

A gas-phase electron diffraction study of 1,3-dithiane, carried out at 100° C, has found no statistically significant evidence for the presence of any conformer in the vapor other than the chair, within an estimated uncertainty of 10%. An index of the degree of ring puckering in 1,3-dithiane is the average torsional angle which was found to be 61.3°, appreciably greater than that in cyclohexane, but somewhat less than that in 1,4-dithiane and 1,3,5-trithianc. The C-C-C, C-C-S and S-C-S valency angles, 113.6(33)°, 114.9(4)° and 115.0(3)° respectively, were all larger than the C-C-C valency angles in cyclohexane. The C-S-C valency angle, 98.1(7)°, was slightly smaller than that of dimethyl sulfide. Observed bond lengths were r_g(C-H) = 1.116(10) Å, r_g(C-H) = 1.533(5)Å, and r_g(C-S) = 1. 812(3)Å and mean amplitudes of vibration were l_g(C-H) = 0.081(12)Å, l_g(C-C) = 0.052(6)Å and l_g(C-S) = 0.052(4) Å (parenthesized quantities correspond to 3σ). Curiously, nonbonded distances between the axial hydrogen atoms in 1,3-dithiane are virtually identical to those in cyclohexane, even though these molecules have greatly different bond lengths, valency angles, and torsional angles.     

Molecular structural of the gauche and trans conformers of ethylamine as studies by gas electron diffraction

The geometrical parameters for the two conformers, gauche (g) and trans (t), of ethylamine have been determined by a joint analysis of the electron diffraction intensity measured in the present study and the rotational constants reported in the literature. The optimized geometries estimated by an SCF MO calculation with a 4-31G(N*) basis set were also used in the analysis to complement the experimental data. The bond lengths (r_g) and the bond angels (r_z) determined are r(CH)_av = 1.107(6) Å r(CN)_t = 1. 470(10)Å, r(CN)_g = 1.475(10) Å r(CC)_t = 1.531(6) Å r (CC)_g = 1.524(6) Å , ∠CCN)_t = 115.0(3)°, and ∠CCCN_g = 109.7(3)°. The uncertainties represent estimated limits of error. The difference between the CCN_g and CCN_g angles predicted by a previous ab initio calculation is confirmed. The enthalpy difference,ΔH(gt), is determined to be 306(200) cal mol⁻¹ using the abundance of the trans conformer, 46(10)%.     

Molecular structure of n-butane: calculation of vibrational shrinkages and an electron diffraction re-investigation

A normal coordinate analysis was carried out based on the force field of Schachtschneider and Snyder in order to calculate all amplitudes of vibration and shrinkage corrections for n-butane. The results are tabulated to aid diffraction analyses of related substances. A vapor-phase electron diffraction reinvestigation of n-butane led to experimental measurements of the principal amplitudes of vibration and to the following molecular parameters (± 3σ ): r_g(C-C) = 1.531(2)Å, r_g(C-H)= 1.117(5)Å, ∠CCC (trans. gauche average) = 113.8(4)°, ∠CCH (ave) = 111.0(5)° , gauche CCCC dihedral angle 65(6)°, % trans conformer = 54 ± 9%, and ΔG° (gauche— trans) = 497 ± 220 cal mol^?1.     

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.     

Structure of tri-tert-butylsilane by electron diffraction and molecular mechanics

A model force field for silanes is constructed by extending the model field MUB-2 to include silicon, for the following purposes: the calculation, via normal coordinate analyses, of amplitudes of vibration and shrinkage corrections for use in gas-phase electron-diffraction analyses, and the calculation of molecular structure by means of molecular mechanics. All of these applications are carried out in conjunction with an electron-diffraction study of [(CH₃)₃C]₃SiH. Evidence of significant steric strain is obtained in both the diffraction and the molecular-mechanics investigations. Diffraction results include the structural parameters (±3σ) r_g(Si-C) = 1.934(6) Å, r_g(C-C) = 1.548(3) Å, r_g(C-H) = 1.121(9) Å, ∠HSiC = 105.3(1.3)°, (∠SiCC)_av = 111.5(0.5)°, ∠CCH = 110.0(1.5)°, t-butyl torsion = 10(3)°, t-butyl tilt = 2.7(2.4)°. Experimental and calculated structures and amplitudes are in satisfactory agreement. The present compound is found to be appreciably less strained than its hydrocarbon analog [(CH₃)₃C]₃CH, somewhat more strained than [(CH₃)₃Si]₃CH, and much more strained than [(CH₃)₃Si]₃SiH. Molecular-mechanics results are presented for the present compound and its carbon and silicon analogs.     

Geometrical and electronic structure of LaI3 molecule from the gas electron diffraction data and quantum chemical calculations

The saturated vapor over LaI₃ has been studied using the electron diffraction method with mass-spectral monitoring. It was determined that at a temperature 1142(10) K, along with monomer molecules, dimers are present in the vapor in the quantity of 0.7 mol.%. Effective configuration parameters of LaI₃ molecule were obtained: r _g(La-I) 2.961(6) Å, ∠_g(I-La-I) 116.5(9)°, l(La-I) 0.106(1) Å and l(I…I) 0.412(7) Å. A small deviation of the valence angle ∠_g(I-L-I) from 120° can be totally caused by a contraction effect of the distance r _g(I…I) of LaI₃ molecule with planar equilibrium configuration. The electronic structure of LaI₃ molecule was examined by the B3LYP/SDD method. In terms of the NBO-analysis, the participation of lanthanum 4f-AO in bonding orbitals La-I is noted. It is shown that the NBO-analysis describes the bond La-I in LaI₃ molecule as predominantly ionic one with a noticeable covalence component. The energy of the heterolytic bond breakage E(La-I)_het = 1216 kJ/mole was calculated.     

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.     

Molecular structure of Pt(PF3)4 by gas-phase electron diffraction

The structure of Pt(PF₃)₄ was reinvestigated making use of a new theory of intramolecular dynamic scattering. Derived molecular parameters were insensitive to the dynamic corrections. Refinements for this tetrahedral molecule yielded r_g(Pt-P) = 2.229(5) Å, r_g(P-F) = 1.550(4) Å, and ∠PtPF = 118.9°(0.4), with the indicated uncertainties representing 2.5σ. Amplitudes of vibration were also determined. Diffraction patterns were consistent with freely rotating PF₃ groups.     

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°.