Molecular structure and ring distortions of p-dichlorobenzene as determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of p-dichlorobenzene in the vapour phase has been studied by electron diffraction. Least-squares refinement of a model with D_2h symmetry has led to the accurate determination of the small deviations of the benzene ring from D_6h symmetry caused by the chlorine substituents. The most appreciable effect is an increase from 120° to 121.6 ± 0.2° of the internal angle at the ipso carbon, associated with a shortening of the distance between the two ipso atoms. A less pronounced effect is a shortening of the C-C bonds that originate from the ipso carbons as compared to the central C-C bonds (r_g = 139.0 ± 0.3 pm vs. 139.5 ± 0.4 pm). Other bond distances are r_g (C-Cl) - 173.0 ± 0.4 pm and r_g (C-H) = 109.4 ± 1.0 pm. The observed ring distortions are in agreement with those obtained by low-temperature X-ray crystallography on three different crystal phases of p-dichlorobenzene. They are also consistent with those obtained for chloro-benzene by gas-phase electron diffraction and by NMR spectroscopy in a nematic solvent. The r_s structure of chlorobenzene obtained in a recent study by micro-wave spectroscopy is shown to need revision, as far as the ipso region of the ring is concerned.