Two isomeric 2‐[4‐chloro‐2‐fluoro‐5‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)phenyl]hexahydro­isoindole‐1,3‐dione compounds

The molecular structures of 2‐4‐chloro‐2‐fluoro‐5‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)phenyl]‐1,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro­isoindole‐1,3‐dione, C₁₇H₁₃ClFNO₃, (I), and the isomeric compound 2‐4‐chloro‐2‐fluoro‐5‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)phenyl]‐cis‐1,3,3a,4,7,7a‐hexahydro­isoindole‐1,3‐dione, (II), are, as anticipated, significantly different in their conformations and in the distances between the farthest two atoms. The six‐membered ring of the 1,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro­isoindole‐1,3‐dione moiety in (I) adopts a half‐chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the five‐membered dione ring of (I) and the benzene ring is 50.96 (7)°. The six‐membered ring of the cis‐1,3,3a,4,7,7a‐hexahydro­isoindole‐1,3‐dione moiety in (II) adopts a boat conformation. The dihedral angle in (II) between the five‐membered dione ring and the benzene ring is 61.03 (13)°. In the crystal structures, the molecules are linked by C—H?O hydrogen bonds and weak π–π interactions. Compound (I) is a much more potent herbicide than (II). The Cl?H distances between the farthest two atoms in (I) and (II) are 11.37 and 9.97 Å, respectively.