Molecular structure of N-chlorosuccinimide studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum-chemical methods

The molecular structure of N-chlorosuccinimide has been studied by GED method at the nozzle temperature of 116 °C. Vibrational corrections to the r _a parameters, Δ(r _a − r _e), have been calculated using the scaled quadratic and cubic force constants from B3LYP/6-31G(df,p) calculations. The force field scaling has been carried out using the IR and Raman spectra of the solid N-chlorosuccinimide. The molecular skeleton and the bond conformation around nitrogen were found to be planar within large experimental errors. The equilibrium geometrical parameters derived from the experimental data assuming C _2v molecular symmetry and those from MP2(fc)/6-311G(3df,2pd) calculations are in a good agreement.     

Molecular structure of 5-fluorouracil from gas-phase electron diffraction data and quantum-chemical calculations

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Molecular structure and conformation of diethylmethylamine determined by gas electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy combined with theoretical calculations

We have investigated the molecular structure and conformation of diethylmethylamine, C(4)H₃C(2)H₂N(1)[CH₃]C(3)H₂C(5)H₃, by gas electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy with the aid of theoretical calculations. Diffraction data are consistent with a conformational mixture of 35(14)% tt + 27(14)% g⁺t + 20(17)% g⁻t + 18(23)% g⁺g⁺ where the numbers in parentheses denote three times the standard errors (3σ). Normal-coordinate analysis based on B3LYP/6-311+G^** calculations supports the existence of the four conformers. The dihedral angle ₁(C4C2N1C3) (= −₂(C5C3N1C2)) of the tt conformer was 170(4)° whereas the ₁ and ₂ values of the other conformers were fixed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p) values: 72.4° and −163.3° for the g⁺t, −66.0° and −158.2° for the g⁻t, and 60.3° and 63.5° for the g⁺g⁺. Average values of the structural parameters (r_g/Å and _α/°) with 3σ are: r(N–C) = 1.462(2), r(C–C) = 1.523(3), r(C–H) = 1.113(2), CNC = 111.6(5), NCC = 114.5(5), NCH/CCH_Me = 110.6(5).     

Molecular structure of phenylsilane: a study by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations

The molecular structure of phenylsilane has been determined accurately by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio MO calculations at the MP2(f.c.)/6-31G* level. The calculations indicate that the perpendicular conformation of the molecule, with a Si–H bond in a plane orthogonal to the plane of the benzene ring, is the potential energy minimum. The coplanar conformation, with a Si–H bond in the plane of the ring, corresponds to a rotational transition state. However, the difference in energy is very small, 0.13 kJ mol⁻¹, implying free rotation of the substituent at the temperature of the electron diffraction experiment (301 K). Important bond lengths from electron diffraction are: <r_g(C–C)>=1.403±0.003 Å, r_g(Si–C)=1.870±0.004 Å, and r_g(Si–H)=1.497±0.007 Å. The calculations indicate that the C_ipso–C_ortho bonds are 0.010 Å longer than the other C–C bonds. The internal ring angle at the ipso position is 118.1±0.2° from electron diffraction and 118.0° from calculations. This confirms the more than 40-year old suggestion of a possible angular deformation of the ring in phenylsilane, in an early electron diffraction study by F.A. Keidel, S.H. Bauer, J. Chem. Phys. 25 (1956) 1218.     

Molecular structure of 1,1-dimethylsilacyclopentene-3,4-oxide from gas-phase electron diffraction

The molecular structure of 1,1-dimethylsilacyclopentene-3,4-oxide has been determined by electron diffraction in the gas phase. The experimental data are consistent withC _s molecular symmetry and boat conformation with a flattened end at the silicon atom. The flap angles characterizing the orientation of C-Si-C and C-O-C planes with respect to the four coplanar carbon atoms of the ring are 16.6 ± 0.6 and 73.3 ± 0.6, respectively. Bond lengths (r_g) are Si-C₆, 1.866 ±0.008; Si-C₂, 1.899 ± 0.008; C₂-C₃, 1.513 ± 0.005; C₃-C₄ (bridge), 1.477 ± 0.013; C-O, 1.443 ± 0.007; (C-H)_mean 1.116 ± 0.003 å. Bond angles are <C₅-Si-C₂, 96.2 ± 0.4; <Si-C₂-C₃, 103.9 ± 0.3; <C₂-C₃-C₄, 116.5 ± 0.3; <C₃-C₄-O, 59.2 ± 0.5; zC₄-C₃-H₉, 109.0 ± 3.5; <C₂-C₃-H₉, 132.9 ± 3.1; <C₆-Si-C₁₂, 114.6 ± 0.8; <Si-C₆-H₁₅, 109.7 ± 0.9.     

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.     

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.     

Equilibrium molecular structure of orotic acid from gas-phase electron diffraction data and quantum-chemical calculations

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Molecular structure of 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane as determined by gas electron diffraction and quantum-chemical calculations

The equilibrium molecular structure and conformation of 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane (DABH) has been studied by the gas-phase electron-diffraction method at 20 degrees C and quantum-chemical calculations. Three possible conformations of DABH were considered: boat, chair, and twist. According to the experimental and theoretical results, DABH exists exclusively as a boat conformation of C s symmetry at the temperature of the experiment. The MP2 calculations predict the stable chair and twist conformations to be 3.8 and 49.5 kcal mol(-1) above the boat form, respectively. The most important semi-experimental geometrical parameters of DABH (r(e), A and angle)e), deg) are (N1-N5) = 1.506(13), (N1-C6) = 1.442(2), (N1-C2) = 1.469(4), (C2-C3) = 1.524(7), (C6-N1-C2) = 114.8(8), (N5-N1-C2) = 107.7(4), (N1-C2-C3) = 106.5(9), and (C2-C3-C4) = 104.0(10). The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has shown that the most important stabilization factor in the boat conformation is the n(N) --> sigma*(C-C) anomeric effect. The geometry calculations and NBO analysis have been performed also for the bicyclohexane molecule.     

Molecular structure of bismuth trichloride from combined electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopic study

The results of an electron diffraction reanalysis, augmented with a combined electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopic elucidation, of the molecular structure of BiCl₃ are reported. The principal parameters arer _g (Bi-Cl)=2.424±0.005 å (r =2.417±0.005 å) and <Cl-Bi-Cl=97.5±0.2. They are in excellent agreement with previous electron diffraction analysis [1], utilizing a more limited data range from the same experiment. They are also fully consistent with the expected trends of geometrical variation in the Group V trihalide series. The force fields of BiCl₃, determined by normal coordinate analysis and by combined analysis, agree within experimental error.     

Molecular structure of caffeine as determined by gas electron diffraction aided by theoretical calculations

The molecular structure of caffeine (3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione) was determined by means of gas electron diffraction. The nozzle temperature was 185 °C. The results of MP2 and B3LYP calculations with the 6-31G⁷ basis set were used as supporting information. These calculations predicted that caffeine has only one conformer and some of the methyl groups perform low frequency internal rotation. The electron diffraction data were analyzed on this basis. The determined structural parameters (r_g and ∠_α) of caffeine are as follows: <r(NC)_ring> = 1.382(3) Å; r(CC) = 1.382(←) Å; r(CC) = 1.446(18) Å; r(CN) = 1.297(11) Å; <r(NC_methyl)> = 1.459(13) Å; <r(CO)> = 1.206(5) Å; <r(CH)> = 1.085(11) Å; ∠N₁C₂N₃ = 116.5(11)°; ∠N₃C₄C₅ = 121. 5(13)°; ∠C₄C₅C₆ = 122.9(10)°; ∠C₄C₅N₇ = 104.7(14)°; ∠N₉–C₄=C₅ = 111.6(10)°; <∠NCH_methyl> = 108.5(28)°. Angle brackets denote average values; parenthesized values are the estimated limits of error (3σ) referring to the last significant digit; left arrow in parentheses means that this parameter is bound to the preceding one.     

Gas-phase electron diffraction study of cyclic dimer of dimethylphosphinic acid (Me2P(O)OH)2 using quantum chemical data and a priori force field

The molecular structure of the hydrogen bonded cyclic dimer of dimethylphosphinic acid (Me₂P(O)OH)₂ was determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) at 433 K. The presence of monomer cannot be determined at this temperature within the error limits for the GED method. Structural analysis was performed with consideration of non-linear kinematic effects at the first-order level of perturbation theory (h1). The vibrational characteristics of internuclear distances were calculated from a priori scaled quantum chemical (RHF/6-311G**) force field. The analysis aided by a constraint based on the RHF/6-311G** calculations yielded the following r_h1-parameters of the C₂-symmetry dimer configuration: PO 1.497(3); P-O 1.573(4); P-C 1.806(1) and 1.811(1) Å; (C-H)_av. 1.109(3) Å; ∠O-PO 120(1)°. Unlike PO and P-O bonds, whose lengths in the gas phase and in the solid state differ insignificantly, the -O?O distance in the gas phase (r_h1 2.81(4) Å) is considerably longer than in the solid state (r_α 2.48(2) Å). The latter is in accordance with the conclusion based on the IR spectra that transition from gas to a solid sample leads to strengthening of the H-bonds. Due to its small contribution to the diffraction pattern, the donor O-H bond length (r_h1 0.99(1) Å) was forcedly bound up with the parameters of C-H bonds. With this assumption, the other geometrical parameters characterizing the H-bond fragment have the following r_h1 values: O?H 1.84(4) Å, ∠-OHO164(6)°, and ∠P-O-H 117(4)°. Conformational flexibility of the non-planar eight-atom ring of the dimer is experimentally verified by absence of any apparent peaks of the f(r) curve at the r-region of more than 4.2 Å.     

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.     

Structure of ScBr3 and Sc2Br6 molecules determined by the synchronous gas-phase electron diffraction and mass spectrometric experiment and quantum chemical calculations

The structure of monomeric and dimeric molecules of scandium tribromide is studied by the synchronous electron diffraction and mass spectrometric experiment at T = 888(10) K and also by the quantum chemical calculations. The experimental data on the structural parameters of ScBr₃ molecule were obtained for the first time; also for the first time the molecular structure of Sc₂Br₆ dimeric molecule was studied. It is found that the ScBr₃ molecule has the C _3v effective configuration with the distance r _g (Sc-Br) = 2.430(3) Å and the valence angle ∠_g(Br-Sc-Br) = 117.6(5)°. The equilibrium structure of the given molecule is planar with D _3h symmetry. According to a theoretical study by DFT and MP2 methods, Sc₂Br₆ molecule has the equilibrium structure of D _2h symmetry with four Sc-Br bridge bonds. It was confirmed by the results of the electron diffraction analysis.     

Equilibrium conformation of dimethylaminodichlorophosphine molecule: the use of the results of quantum-chemical calculations and spectroscopic measurements in the analysis of gas-phase electron diffraction data

Geometric parameters and force fields of two stable isomers of dimethylaminodichlorophosphine molecule, a gauche-conformer with C₁ symmetry (A) and anti-conformer with C _s symmetry (D), resulting from internal rotation about the P—N bond, were calculated in the RHF/6-31G* approximation. Using the scaled quantum-chemical force field for the most stable conformer A, the first reliable interpretation of the vibrational spectra of the light and perdeuterated isotopomers of dimethylaminodichlorophosphine was obtained. The root-mean-square vibrational amplitudes, harmonic and anharmonic vibrational corrections, and centrifugal distortion corrections were also calculated. Structural analysis of electron diffraction data was performed with consideration of nonlinear kinematic effects at the first-order level of perturbation theory. The experimental values of the equilibrium geometric parameters were estimated. The results obtained suggest a nonplanar equilibrium configuration of the amino group in the dimethylaminodichlorophosphine molecule.     

The molecular structure of different species of cuprous chloride from gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations

The molecular geometry of gaseous cuprous chloride oligomers was determined by gas-phase electron diffraction at two different temperatures. Quantum chemical calculations were also performed for Cu(n)Cl(n) (n=1-4) molecules. A complex vapor composition was found in both experiments. Molecules of Cu(3)Cl(3) and Cu(4)Cl(4) were present at the lower temperature (689 K), while dimeric molecules (Cu(2)Cl(2)) were found in addition to the trimers and tetramers at the higher temperature (1333 K). All Cu(n)Cl(n) species were found to have planar rings by both experiment and computation. The bond lengths from electron diffraction (r(g)) at 689 K are 2.166+/-0.008 A and 2.141+/-0.008 A and the Cu-Cl-Cu bond angles are 73.9+/-0.6 degrees and 88.0+/-0.6 degrees for the trimer and the tetramer, respectively. At 1333 K the bond lengths are 2.254+/-0.011 A, 2.180+/-0.011 A, and 2.155+/-0.011 A, and the Cu-Cl-Cu bond angles 67.3+/-1.1 degrees, 74.4+/-1.1 degrees, and 83.6+/-1.1 degrees for the dimer, trimer, and tetramer, respectively.     

Molecular structure of LuBr<Subscript>3</Subscript> according to the data of the simultaneous electron diffraction and mass spectrometric experiment

The saturated vapor of lutetium tribromide was studied in the simultaneous electron diffraction and mass spectrometric experiment at 1161(10) K. Along with the monomer molecular forms, the vapor contained an insignificant (up to 3 mol.%) amount of dimers. The parameters of the effective configuration of the monomer molecule were determined. The internuclear distance r _g(Lu-Br) is 2.553(5) Å, and the effective bond angle ∠_g(Br-Lu-Br) is 115.3(10)°. The temperature-averaged r _g parameters were calculated by the B3LYP method using the potential functions obtained by scanning the PES along the vibration coordinates and compared with similar experimental values. It was shown that the geometrical model of the LuBr₃ molecule of D _3h symmetry was consistent with the experimental data. The dependence of the r _g parameters of the LuBr₃ molecule on the vapor temperature was studied theoretically.     

Molecular structure of ethynylbenzene from electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations

The molecular structure and benzene ring distortions of ethynylbenzene have been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio MO calculations at the HF/6-31G^* and 6-3G^** levels. Least-squares refinement of a model withC _2v, symmetry, with constraints from the MO calculations, yielded the following important bond distances and angles:r _g(C _i -C _o )=1.407±0.003 Å,r _g(C _o -C _m )=1.397±0.003 Å,r _g(C _m -C _p )=1.400±0.003 Å,r _g(Cr _i -CCH)=1.436 ±0.004 Å,r _g(C=C)=1.205±0.005 Å, C _o -C _i -C _o =119.8±0.4°. The deformation of the benzene ring of ethynylbenzene given by the MO calculations, including o-C_i-C_o=119.4°, is insensitive to the basis set used and agrees with that obtained by low-temperature X-ray crystallography for the phenylethynyl fragment, C₆H₅-CC-, in two different crystal environments. The partial substitution structure of ethynylbenzene from microwave spectroscopy is shown to be inaccurate in the ipso region of the benzene ring.     

Molecular structure of SmBr<Subscript>3</Subscript> and DyBr<Subscript>3</Subscript> according to the data of simultaneous electron diffraction and mass spectrometric experiment

The saturated vapors of samarium and dysprosium tribromides were investigated for the first time by electron diffraction with mass spectrometric monitoring at temperatures of 1151(10) K and 1141(10) K. Dimer molecules (up to 2 mole %) were found in vapors along with monomer molecules. The SmBr₃ and DyBr₃ molecules have a pyramidal effective configuration with bond angles ∠_gBr-Sm-Br=115.1(9)° and ∠_gBr-Dy-Br=115.3(7)°. The difference between the internuclear distances of SmBr₃ and DyBr₃ (r _g(Sm-Br) = 2.653(6) Å and r _g(Dy-Br) = 2.609(5) Å) coincides with the difference between the ionic radii of Sm³⁺ and Dy³⁺. The insignificant pyramidality of the r _g configuration and the low deformation vibration frequencies of SmBr₃ and DyBr₃ may be indicative of a planar equilibrium geometry of D _3h symmetry. The equilibrium distances r _e(Sm-Br) and r _e(Dy-Br) have been evaluated and compared with the values obtained by quantum chemical calculations.     

Molecular structure and conformational composition of 1-Chlorobutane, 1-Bromobutane,and 1-Iodobutane as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio calculations

Gas-phase electron diffraction (ED), together with ab initio molecular orbital calculations, have been used to determine the structure and conformational composition of 1-chlorobutane, 1-bromobutane, and 1-iodobutane. These molecules may in principle exist as mixtures of five different conformers, but only three or four of these were observed in gas phase at temperatures of the ED experiments, 18C, 18C, and 23C, respectively. The observed conformational compositions (1-chlorobutane, 1-bromobutane, and 1-iodobutane) were AA (13 ± 12%, 21 ± 14%, 19 ± 17%), GA (60±13%, 33±32%, 17±31%), AG (12±16%, 8±12%, <1%), and GG (12 ±16%, 38± 34%, 64±31%). A and G denotesanti andgauche positions for the X-C₁-C₂-C₃ (X=Cl, Br, I), and the C₁-C₂-C₃-C₄ torsion angles. The results for the most important distances (r _g) and angles () from the combined ED/ab initio study for the GA conformer of 1-chlorobutane, with estimated 2 uncertainties, arer(C₁-C₂)=1.519(3)å,r (C₂-C₃)=1.530(3) å,r (C₃-C₄)=1.543(3) å,r (C₁-Cl)=1.800(4) å, <C₁C₂C₃=114.3(6), <C₂C₃C₄=112.0(6), <CCCl=112.3(5). The results for the GA conformer of 1-bromobutane arer (C₁-C₂)=1.513(4) å,r (C₂-C₃)=1.526(4) å,r (C₃-C₄)=1.540(4) å,r(C₁-Br)=1.959(8) å, <C₁C₂C₃=115.3(11), <C₂C₃C₄=112.8(11),<CCBr=112.1(14). The results for 1-chlorobutane and 1-bromobutane are compared with those from earlier electron diffraction investigations. The results for the GA conformer of 1-iodobutane arer (C₁-C₂)=1.506(5) å,r (C₂-C₃)=1.518(5) å,r (C₃-C₄)=1.535(5) å,r (C₁-I)=2.133(11) å, <C₁C₂C₃=116.8(15), <C₂C₃C₄=115.3(15), <CCI=110.2(14). Differences in length between the different C-H bonds in each molecule, between the different C-C bonds, between the different CCH angles, and between the different CCC angles were kept constant at the values obtained from the ab initio calculations.