| Abstract: | The slight energy differences among the three isomers of 1,4‐difluorobutadiene have been investigated by Gaussian‐3 (G3) theory. The computational results suggest that the Gaussian‐3–Becke's three‐parameter functional (G3B3) theoretical estimates are in good agreement with experimental data. Mulliken population analysis also has been performed to interpret the anomalous equilibrium relationship among these three isomers. Wire mesh contours of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) orbitals of these isomers help to illustrate the cis effect visually. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis indicates that the origin of cis preference among the three isomers may lie in the configurational orientation and the n‐π conjugative interaction between fluorine atom and C?C double bond. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003 |
