Gas phase and solid state X-ray photoelectron spectra of the substituted acetylenes (SF5)n C2 (CF3)2−n (n = 0, 1, 2): A comparison of the pentafluorosulfur and trifluoromethyl groups

The core level X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) of CF₃CCCF₃, CF₃CCSF₅ and SF₅CCSF₅ have been measured in the solid state. Gas phase spectra of CF₃CCCF₃ and CF₃CCSF₅ have also been obtained. The XPS data, interpreted with the point charge potential model and semiempirical MNDO (minimum neglect of differential overlap) molecular orbital calculations, indicate that the electron withdrawing effect of the ?CF₃ group is greater than that of the ?SF₅ group. Results further suggest that sulfur 3d orbitals do not play a detectable role in the bonding or charge distribution in these molecules. Carbon 1s linewidths of ?CF₃ carbon atoms are found to be much narrower than those arising from the acetylenic carbon atoms. The narrower lines correlate with the much higher binding energy of the ?CF₃ carbon atoms. Large shifts (nearly 1 eV) in heteroatom core level binding energy differences (for example, F 1s — C 1s) between the gas phase and solid state data are observed. These shifts are attributed to solid state effects (Madelung potential, intermolecular bonding interactions, and/or extramolecular relaxation contributions). From these comparisons it is clear that solid state effects are not uniform in their influence on the photoionized sites in these molecules.