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 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 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.     

The gas-phase molecular structure of methyl formate,determined by electron diffraction

The structure of methyl formate in the gas phase has been reinvestigated by electron diffraction. The results confirm that the molecular skeleton is cis-planar, with bond lengths and angles in close agreement with those found by microwave techniques. Principal parameters (r_a) are: r(CO) 120.2(2) pm, r(C-O) 134.0(2), and 143.5(3) pm; ∠ (OC-O) 125.4(5)°, and ∠ (C-O-C) 115.9(5)°.     

Molecular structures of isobutene and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene as studied by gas electron diffraction

The structures of isobutene and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene have been studied by gas electron diffraction. For isobutene the rotational constants obtained by Laurie by microwave spectroscopy have also been taken into account. Leastsquares analyses have given the following r_g bond distances and valence angles (r_av for isobutene and r_α for dimethylbutene): for isobutene, r(CC) = 1.342±0.003 Å, r(C-C)= 1.508±0.002Å, r(C-H, methyl) = 1.119±0.007 Å, r(C-H, methylene) = 1.095±0.020 Å, ∠(C-CC) = 122.2±0.2°, ∠(H-C-H) = 107.9±0.8°, and ∠(C-C-H) 121.3±1.5°; for dimethylbutene, r(CC)= 1.353 ±0.004 Å, r(C-C) = 1.511±0.002 Å, r(C-H) = 1.118± 0.004 Å, ∠(C-CC)= 123.9±0.5°, and ∠(H-C-H)= 107.0±1.0°, where the uncertainties represent estimated limits of experimental error. The bond distances and valence angles in these molecules and in related molecules are compared with one another. The CC and C-C bond distances increase almost regularly with the number of methyl groups, and the C-C bonds in isobutene and dimethylbutene are shorter than those in acetaldehyde and acetone by about 0.01 Å. Systematic variations in the C-CC angles suggest the steric influence of methyl groups.     

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 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.     

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.     

Molecular structure and conformation of 2,3-dichloro-1-propene as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction

The molecular structure and conformation of 2,3-dichloro-1-propene have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction at nozzle temperatures of 24, 90 and 273°C. The molecules exist as a mixture of two conformers with the chlorine atoms anti (torsion angle ∠φ = 0°) or gauche (∠φ = 109°) to each other and with the anti form the more stable. The composition (mole fraction) of the vapor with uncertainties estimated at 2σ was found to be 0.55 (0.08), 0.49 (0.08) and 0.41 (0.10) at 24, 90 and 273°, respectively. These values correspond to an energy difference with estimated standard deviation ΔE° = E°_g-E°_a = 0.7 ± 0.3 kcal mol^?1 and an entropy difference ΔS° = S°_g-S°_a = 0.6 ± 0.9 cal mol^?1 K^?1. Some of the diffraction results, together with spectroscopic observations, permit the evaluation of an approximate torsional potential function of the form 2V = V₁ (1 - cos φ) + V₂ (1 - cos 2φ) + V₃ (1 - cos 3φ); the results are V₁ = 4.4 ± 0.5, V₂ = ?2.9 ± 0.5 and V₃ = 4.8 ± 0.2, all in kcal mol^?1. The results at 24°C for the distance (r_a) and angle (∠_α) parameters, with estimated uncertainties of 2σ, are: r(C_sp²-H) = 1.098(0.020)Å, r(C_sp³-H) = 1.103(0.020)Å, r(CC) = 1.334(0.009)Å, r(C-C) = 1.504(0.013)Å, r(C_sp²-Cl) = 1.752(0.021)Å, r(C_sp³-Cl) = 1.776(0.020)Å, ∠C-CC = 127.6(1.1)°, ∠C_sp³-C_sp²-Cl = 110.2(1.0), ∠C_sp²-C_sp³-Cl = 113.1(1.2)°, ∠H-C_sp³-H = 109.5° (assumed), ∠CC-H = 120.0° (assumed) and ∠φ = 108.9(3.4)°.     

Molecular structure and conformation of cis-1,3- dichloro-1-propene as determined by gas phase electron diffraction

The molecular structure and conformation of cis-1,3-dichloro-1-propene have been determined by gas phase electron diffraction at a nozzle temperature of 90°C. The molecule exists in a form in which the chlorine atom of the methyl group and the carbon-carbon double bond are gauche to one another. The results for the distance (r_g) and angle (∠_α) parameters are: r(C-H) = 1.078(10)Å, r(CC) = 1.340(5)Å, r(C-C) = 1.508(7)Å, r( =C-Cl) = 1.762(3)Å, r(C-Cl) = 1.806(3)Å, ∠Cl-C-C = 111.7°(1.8), ∠(CC-C) = 125.5°(1.5), ∠Cl-CC = 124.6°(1.6) and ∠H-C-Cl = 111°(5). The torsion-sensitive distances close to the gauche form can be approximated using a dynamic model with a quartic double minimum potential function of the form V(Φ) = V₀[1 + ($\text{Φ}\text{Φ}{}_0$⁴ - 2($\text{Φ}\text{Φ}{}_0$)²], where V_o = 1.1(8) kcal mol^?1 and Φ₀ = 56°(5) (Φ = 0 corresponds to the anti form).     

Molecular structure and conformation of gaseous vinyldimethylchlorosilane as determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of vinyldimethylchlorosilane has been determined by gas phase electron diffraction at room temperature. The least squares values of the bond lengths (r_g) and bond angles (∠_α) are : r(CH) = 1.086(6) Å, r(CC) = 1.347(5) Å, r(SiC=) = 1.838(6) Å, r(SiC) = 1.876(3) Å, r(SiCl) = 2.078(2) Å, ∠CCSi = 127.8° (1.2) and ∠=CSiCl = 107° (1). Models with pure syn form and a mixture of syn and gauche gave equally good agreement with the diffraction data.     

Molecular structure and conformation of gaseous chloroacetyl chloride as determined by electron diffraction

Chloroacetyl chloride is studied by gas-phase electron diffraction at nozzle-tip tempera- tures of 18, 110 and 215°C. The molecules exist as a mixture of anti and gauche confor- mers with the anti form the more stable. The composition (mole fraction) of the vapor with uncertainties estimated at 2σ is found to be 0.770 (0.070), 0.673 (0.086) and 0.572 (0.086) at 18, 110 and 215°C, respectively. These values correspond to an energy difference with estimated standard deviation ΔE^o = E^o_g -E^o_a = 1.3 ± 0.4 kcal mol^?1 and an entropy difference ΔS^o = S^o_g -S^o_a = 0.7 ± 1.1 cal mol^?1 K^?1. Certain of the diffraction results permit the evaluation of an approximate torsional potential function of the form 2V = V₁(1 - cos φ) + V₂(1 - cos 2φ) + V₃(1 - cos 3φ); the results are V₁ = 1.19 ± 0.33, V₂ = 0.56 ± 0.20 and V₃ = 0.94 ± 0.12, all in kcal mol^?1. The results for the distance (r_a), angle (_∠α) and r.m.s. amplitude parameters obtained at the three temperatures are entirely consistent. At 18°C the more important parameters are, with estimated uncertainties of 2σ, r(C-H) = 1.062(0.030) Å, r(CO) = 1.182(0.004) Å, r(C-C) = 1.521(0.009) Å. r(CO-Cl) = 1.772(0.016) Å, r(CH₂-Cl) = 1.782(0.018) Å, ∠C-C-0 = 126.9(0.9)°, ∠CH₂-CO-C1 = 110.0(0.7)°,∠CO-CH₂-C1 = 112.9(1–7)°, ∠H-C-H = 109.5° (assumed), ∠φ (gauche torsion angle relative to 0° for the anti form) = 116.4(7.7)°, δ (r.m.s. amplitude of torsional vibration in the anti conformer) == 17.5(4.2)°.     

Electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopic investigation of the molecular structure of (chloromethyl)trichlorosilane

An electron diffraction analysis of the molecular structure of the title compound has been carried out, and related vibrational spectroscopic measurements and calculations have been made. The main bond lengths (r_g and bond angles r_α) are as follows: SiCl, 202.8(2); SiC, 185.1(10); CCl, 179.4(11); CH, 111.2(18) pm; SiCCl, 111.7(4);l ClSiC, 109.95(21)°. The conformation of the molecule is staggered. The barrier to internal rotation is estimated to be around 10 kJ mol^?1.     

The gas-phase molecular structure of silyl chloroacetylene,determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of SiH₃CCCl in the gas phase has been investigated using electron diffraction. Mean amplitudes of vibration and perpendicular amplitude correction factors calculated from spectroscopic data enabled refinement of both r_a and r_α structures to be carried out. The r_α refinement leads to a linear skeleton, with r_α parameters: r(Si-C) 181.2(5) pm, r(CC) 123.4(6) pm, r(C-Cl) 162.0(5) pm, r(Si-H) 148.8(12) pm, ∠HSiC 109.4(20)°. The r_a structure shows an apparent angle in the skeleton of 172(3)° (∠CCCl) owing to shrinkage.     

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.     

The molecular structure of fumaric acid and the deformation of carboxyl group geometry on crystallization

The molecular structure of fumaric acid was studied by means of gas electron diffraction at 260° C. The molecular parameters and their standard deviations obtained for a C_2h model are (r_a distances in Å, angles in degrees): CO: 1.202(0.002), C-O: 1.341(0.006), C-C: 1.486(0.004), CC: 1.356(0.016). C-C-O: 112.1(1.0), C-CO: 124.4(1.1), C-CC: 121.8(1.2). From the available data on carboxylic acids the weighted average deformation of the structure of a carboxylic group on crystallization was determined; a significant expansion of the O-H bond (0.040 Å ), the CO bond (0.010 Å ) and the C-C-O bond angle (1.5° ) and a shrinkage of the C-O bond (0.041 Å ), the C_α-C bond (0.012 Å ) and the C-CO bond angle (2.0° ) was found. The energy for these deformations was estimated to be 1.8 kcal mol^?1.     

The isomers of 3-methyl pentene-2; configurational assignment and molecular structure by electron diffraction

The two isomers of 3-methyl pentene-2 have been investigated in the vapour phase by electron diffraction. The higher boiling isomer (70.4 °C) has the E-configuration and the isomer boiling at 67.7 °C has the Z-configuration. Bond distances in the E-isomer are: r(CC) = 1.349, r(Csp²-Csp³) = 1.511, r(C-C) = 1.551, r(C-H) = 1.116 Å; in the Z-isomer: r(CC) = 1.344, r(Csp²-Csp³) = 1.508, r(C-C) = 1.553, r(C-H) = 1.114 Å. In both compounds the Csp³-Csp³ bond is at approximately right angles to the plane containing the double bond. The possibility of non-planar arrangements around the double bond is discussed.     

The molecular structure of gaseous tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone and tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone by electron diffraction

The structures of tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone and tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone (p- and o-chloranil) have been investigated by gas electron diffraction. The ring distances are slightly larger and the carbonyl bonds slightly smaller than in the corresponding unsubstituted quinones. The molecules are planar to within experimental error, but small deviations from planarity such as those found for the para compound in the crystal are completely compatible with the data. Values for the geometrical parameters (r_a distances and bond angles) and for some of the more important amplitudes (l) with parenthesized uncertainties of 2σ including estimated systematic error and correlation effects are as follows. Tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone: D_2h symmetry (assumed); r(CO) = 1.216 Å(4), r(CC) = 1.353 Å(6), r(C-C) = 1.492 Å(3), r(C-Cl) = 1.701 Å(3), ∠C-C-C = 117.1° (7), ∠CC-C1 = 122.7° (2), l(CO)= 0.037 Å(5), l(CC) = l(C-C) - 0.008 Å(assumed) = 0.049 Å(7), and l(C-Cl) = 0.054 Å(3). Tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone: C_2v symmetry (assumed); r(CO) = 1.205 Å(5), r(CC) = 1.354 Å(9), r(C_cl-C_cl) = 1.478 Å(28), r(Co-C_cl) = 1.483 Å(24), r(C_o-C_o) = 1.526 Å(2), r(C-Cl)= 1.705 Å(3), <C_o-CO = 121.0° (22), ∠C-C-C = 117.2° (9), ∠C_co, ClC-Cl = 118.9° (22), ∠C_ccl, ClC-Cl = 122.2°(12), l(CO) = 0.039 Å(5), and l(C_cl-C_cl) = l(C_o-C_cl) = l( Co-Co) = l(CC) + 0.060 Å(equalities assumed) = 0.055 Å(9). Vibrational'shortenings (shrinkages) of a few of the long non-bond distances have also been measured.     

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 of seleno- and thiocarbonyl difluoride

The geometric structures of seleno- and thiocarbonyl difluoride, Se=CF₂ and S=CF₂, studied in the gas phase by electron diffraction, are presented. For S=CF₂ the electron diffraction data are combined with microwave rotational constants. The following geometric parameters were derived: for SeCF₂ (r_α⁰ values) Se-C = 1.743(3) Å, C-F = 1.314(2) Å and ? FCF = 107.5(0.4)° ; for SCF₂ (r_av values) S-C = 1.589(2) Å, C-F = 1.316(2) Å and FCF = 107.1(0.2)° . Uncertainties are 3σ values of the least squares analyses.