The manifestation of non-bonded attraction in the physical properties of cis and trans olefins

Non-bonded attraction is suggested to account for a host of differences in the physical properties of cis and trans olefins of the type XHC=CHX. The main predictions are: (i) The cis isomer is more stable than the trans isomer; (ii) The C=C bond is longer and the C-X bonds are shorter for the cis isomer; (iii) The π MO's orbital energies of the two isomers differ such that the trans isomer is a better electron donor and electron acceptor than the cis isomer. Ab initio calculations at the STO-3G and the 4-31G levels in support of the model are presented. The photoelectron spectra of cis and trans difluoro, dichloro and dibromoethylene are discussed, and found to be in accord with our qualitative model.