The molecular structure of tetramethoxysilane in the gas phase,an electron diffraction study

The molecular structure of tetramethoxysilane was determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction. The molecule has S₄ symmetry, slightly flattened along the axis. The SiO bonds are shorter than in methylsilylether, demonstrating the effect of electronegative substituents on the Si atom. The geometrical parameters (r_a structure) are: Si-O bond 1.613 Å; C-O bond 1.414 Å; C-H bond 1.12 Å; O-Si-O angle bisected by S₄ axis 115.5°; Si-O-C angle 122.3°; O-C-H angle 111°; methoxyl torsional angle 64°; methyl torsional angle 60°.     

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°.     

The structure of trimethoxymethane in the gas phase,an electron diffraction,ab initio and molecular mechanics study

The structure of trimethoxymethane in the gas phase was studied by electron diffraction, ab initio molecular orbital calculations and molecular mechanics. The molecule was found to exist almost exclusively as an asymmetric all-staggered TGG conformer. The electron diffraction structural parameters (r_g distances, r_α angles) as obtained from geometrically consistent r_α-refinements are: r(C-O) central 1.382(6) Å, r(C-O) terminal 1.418(6) Å, r(C-H) 1.112(1) Å, ∠(O-C-O) in the gauche—gauche chain 115.0(1.0)°, in the gauche-anti chains 109.2(0.6)° ∠(C-O-C) 114.3(0.6)°, ∠(O-C-H)_Me 109.9(0.3)°, methyl torsion 68(6)°. The structure is adequately reproduced by molecular mechanics calculations applying Allinger's force field. The structures of methoxymethanes can be explained in terms of the anomeric effect. This is confirmed by ab initio calculations.     

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.     

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°).     

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.     

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.     

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 molecular structure of 1,1-dichloro-1-silacyclo-hexane and of 1,1-dimethoxy-1-silacyclohexane in the gas phase, an electron diffraction study

The molecular structure of 1,1-dichloro-1-silacyclohexane (DCSC) and of 1,1-dimethoxyl-silacyclohexane (DMSC) has been determined by gas phase electron diffraction. Starting values for the vibrational parameters were obtained from force field calculations.

Both molecules are in the chair conformation with a flattening in the vicinity of the silicon atom, which is most pronounced in the dichloro-compound. Disregarding the substituents the title compounds show C_s-symmetry. In DMSC the gem-dimethoxy grouping is in the sc, sc conformation in accordance with the anomeric effect.

A comparison is made between the experimentally found geometries with predictions of molecular mechanics calculations based on two available force fields.     

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).     

An electron diffraction study of the structure of 1,1,2-trichloroethane in the gas phase

The molecular structure of 1,1,2-trichloroethane has been determined by gas phase electron diffraction. The molecule is asymmetric. The geometrical parameters (r_a structure) are: r(C-Cl) 1.776 Å; r(C-H) 0.98 Å; ∠(C-C-Cl) 107°; ∠(Cl-C-Cl) projected along the C-C bond 116°; dihedral angle (Cl-C-C-Cl) 75°. The parameters ∠(C-C-H) 102° and the projected (H-C-H) angle 136° are inaccurate. The structure is rather insensitive to the r(C-C) value, which is unusually long, 1.56 to 1.58 Å.     

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 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 p-bis(trimethylsilyl)-benzene from gas phase electron diffraction

Nearly regular tetrahedral silicon bond configuration and a considerably distorted ring characterize the p-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene molecular geometry according to an electron diffraction study. The SiC_methyl bond is longer than the SiC_phenyl bond, in agreement with expectation but contrary to an X-ray diffraction determination. The extent of ring deformation is consistent with the electropositive character of the trimethylsilyl substituent and with the structural variations in other para-disubstituted benzene derivatives. The electron diffraction data are consistent with either free rotation around the SiC_phenyl bonds or with a rotamer deviating by about 15° from the eclipsed form. The following bond lengths (r_g, pm) and bond angles (°) have been determined with parenthesized estimated total errors: (CC)_mean 140.8(3), (C_ipso)(C_orthoC_meta) 1.6(7), (SiC)_mean 188.0(4), (SiC_methyl)(SiC_phenyl) 3.3(7), (CH)_methyl 111.3(3), CC_ipsoC 115.7(6), and C_phenylSiC_methyl 109.2(4).     

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°.     

A re-investigation of the molecular structure of trifluoroacetic acid by means of gas phase electron diffraction

Analysis of the electron diffraction patterns of trifluoroacetic acid at 140°C indicates the existence of one conformation with the CF₃-group rotated 17.3± 0.9° from a position with a fluorine atom eclipsed with respect to the CO bond. The data does not exclude the possibility of free internal rotation but it seems improbable.The important bond lengths, r_g(1), and bond angles with their standard deviations in parentheses, are: C-F: 1.325 (0.003), C-C: 1.546 (0.005), CO: 1.192 (0.003), C-O: 1.353 (0.014) Å, C-C-F: 109.5 (0.3), C-CO: 126.8 (0.8), C-C-O: 111.1 (0.9)°.