| Abstract: | From PE.-spectroscopical studies the torsional angle φ of the N-phenyl ring in isolated benzylideneaniline 1 has been found to be definitely smaller than φ= 90°. An approximate valueφ= 36°has been estimated which is even smaller than the one observed in the crystal (φ= 55°) and suggested to prevail also in solutions of 1 . A reevaluation of the gas phase optical spectrum of isolated 1 supports a torsional angle similar to that found in the other phases. Calculations of the most stable conformation of 1 as well as of stilbene and azobenzene by the MINDO/3-technique lead to torsional angles φ= 90° for both phenyl rings in all cases. These results are at variance with the experimental results and suggest that MINDO/3-like its less advanced precursor MINDO/2 or like CNDO/2–is unreliable for low energy processes involving rotation of π-systems connected by essential single bonds. It is concluded that the π-energy of benzylideneaniline, like that of stilbene or azobenzene, would favor a planar conformation. The increased torsional angle in 1 as compared to the other two iso-conjugate systems arises from a larger steric interaction between phenyl- and bridgeprotons. |
