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Tin trifluoroacetates are effective vapor phase single-source precursors for F-doped SnO2, but their structures have been poorly understood for decades. Here we undertook a comprehensive structural analysis of these compounds in both the solid and gas phases through a combined single-crystal X-ray crystallography, gas phase electron diffraction, and density functional theory investigation. Tin(II) bis(trifluoroacetate) (1) thermally decomposes into a 1:1 mixture of 1 and ditin(II) μ-oxybis(μ-trifluoroacetate) (2) during sublimation, which then polymerize into hexatin(II)-di-μ3-oxyoctakis(μ-trifluoroacetate) (3) upon solidification. Reversible depolymerization occurred readily upon heating, making 3 a useful vapor phase precursor itself. Tin(IV) tetrakis(trifluoroacetate) (5) was also found to be polymeric in the solid state, but it evaporated as a monomer over 130 °C lower than 3. This counterintuitive improvement in volatility by polymerization was possibly due to the large entropy change during sublimation, which offers a strategic new design feature for vapor phase deposition precursors.

Because of the comparable electron scattering abilities of carbon and boron, the electron diffraction structure of the C2v-symmetric molecule closo-1,2-C2B10H12 (1), one of the building blocks of boron cluster chemistry, is not as accurate as it could be. On that basis, we have prepared the known diiodo derivative of 1, 9,12-I2-closo-1,2-C2B10H10 (2), which has the same point-group symmetry as 1 but in which the presence of iodine atoms, with their much stronger ability to scatter electrons, ensures much better structural characterization of the C2B10 icosahedral core. Furthermore, the influence on the C2B10 geometry in 2 of the antipodally positioned iodine substituents with respect to both carbon atoms has been examined using the concerted application of gas electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations at the MP2 and density functional theory (DFT) levels. The experimental and computed molecular geometries are in good overall agreement. Molecular dynamics simulations used to obtain vibrational parameters, which are needed for analyzing the electron diffraction data, have been performed for the first time for this class of compound. According to DFT calculations at the ZORA-SO/BP86 level, the (11)B chemical shifts of the boron atoms to which the iodine substituents are bonded are dominated by spin-orbit coupling. Magnetically induced currents within 2 have been calculated and compared to those for [B12H12](2-), the latter adopting a regular icosahedral structure with Ih point-group symmetry. Similar total current strengths are found but with a certain anisotropy, suggesting that spherical aromaticity is present; electron delocalization in the plane of the hetero atoms in 2 is slightly hindered compared to that for [B12H12](2-), presumably because of the departure from ideal icosahedral symmetry.

Carbaboranes 1,2-(EH)2 -closo-1,2-C2 B10 H10 (E=S, Se) were prepared, in the case of E=Se for the first time. Their semi-experimental equilibrium molecular structures were established by the concerted use of quantum-chemical calculations and gas electron diffraction. A method was developed and implemented to quantify the contribution of experimental data to each refined structural parameter. The accuracy of the experimental structures and those calculated at the MP2 level of theory were gauged by comparison of experimental 11 B NMR chemical shifts with quantum-chemically computed values; the inclusion of electron correlation (GIAO-MP2) provided superior results. For the purpose of geometrical prediction, the remaining group 16 elements were considered, and the icosahedral structures for E=O and Te were also computed; for E=O the same theoretical approach was used as for E=S, and for E=Te a description similar to that for E=Se was employed.

The gas electron diffraction structure of 1,3-dithietane 1,1,3,3-tetraoxide has been determined using the SARACEN method to restrain parameters that otherwise could not be refined. Quantum chemical calculations for this species showed that the potential-energy surface was extremely flat, and this was also observed from the diffraction experiments. The difference in goodness of fit for the diffraction experiment between a planar ring and one puckered by up to 9° was very small. Calculations were also performed for a variety of similar species with different numbers of oxygen atoms attached to the sulphur atoms. Topological analysis of the electron density, and electron localisation function studies of the relevant molecules, have given deeper insight into the nature of their bonding, and suggested how spatial localisation of electron pairs may influence the molecular structure.

The molecular structures of 1-Br-4-F-C 6H 4 and 1-Cl-4-F-C 6H 4 have been studied in the gas phase using gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio methods. The structure of 1-Cl,4-F-C 6H 4 in the crystalline phase has also been studied, but whilst the gaseous structures were found to possess C 2v symmetry, the solid-state structure was found to be quite distorted, with three molecules in the asymmetric unit. These fragments only possess C s symmetry in the plane of the molecules, as opposed to the C 2v symmetry observed in the gas phase. The bonding motifs within the solid-state structure are very unusual and unexpected, with quite different C-F bond lengths for the three moieties, and are a result of weak hydrogen-halogen interactions within the structure. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

In the combined analysis of gas-phase electron-diffraction scattering data, rotation constants and dipolar coupling constants from NMR experiments in liquid crystal solvents, not only are high-accuracy molecular structures of 1,2- and 1,3-difluorobenzene obtained, but the anisotropic components of some of the CF and FF indirect couplings have been deduced directly from the experimental data. The benefits of combined analyses of data from several different experimental techniques, and factors influencing the accuracy of structures determined in this way, are discussed.

The gas-phase structure of 1-adamantylphosphine has been determined by electron diffraction, supplemented with data from ab initio and DFT calculations. The adamantyl fragment was modeled with local C 3v symmetry and the phosphino group was found to be in a position almost bisecting a mirror plane of the adamantyl group, giving the molecule overall approximate C s symmetry. There is a small displacement of the C–P bond from the local threefold axis of the adamantyl group. Geometry optimizations were also performed for bis-(1-adamantyl)phosphine (C 1 point-group symmetry) and tris-(1-adamantyl)phosphine (C 3 symmetry), demonstrating extremely crowded environments around the phosphorus atoms leading to adamantyl groups that were much less symmetric. The adamantyl groups were also found to twist by a significant amount to minimize the strain.

The molecular structure and conformational properties of ethyl trifluoroacetate, CF3CO2CH2CH3, were determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction, and vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman). The experimental investigations were supplemented by ab initio (MP2) and DFT quantum chemical calculations at different levels of theory. Experimental and theoretical methods result in two structures with Cs (anti–anti) and C1 (anti–gauche) symmetries, the former being slightly more stable than the latter. The electron-diffraction data are best fitted with a mixture of 56% anti–gauche and 44% anti–anti conformers. The conformational preference was also studied using the total energy scheme, and the natural bond orbital scheme. Also, the infrared spectra of CF3CO2CH2CH3 are reported for the gas, liquid and solid states, as is the Raman spectrum of the liquid. The comparison of experimental averaged IR spectra of Cs and C1 conformers provides evidence for the predicted conformations in the IR spectra. Harmonic vibrational wavenumbers and scaled force fields have been calculated for both conformers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A conformational study of diethyldichlorosilane and the elucidation of the gas-phase molecular structures of its four conformers have been performed using the combined approach of gas-phase electron diffraction and computational techniques. Moreover, the Raman spectrum of the liquid and the IR spectra of the gas and liquid phases have been recorded and thoroughly analyzed on the basis of the scaled quantum-mechanical force field methodology. The results of the vibrational assignment have given spectroscopic evidence of the presence of the different conformers in the samples. Copyright c � 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The molecular structures of allyl-, allenyl-, propargyl-, vinyl-, ethynyl-, phenyl-, benzyl-, and chloromethyl-phosphine have been determined from gas-phase electron diffraction data employing the SARACEN method. The experimental geometric parameters are compared with those obtained using ab initio calculations performed at the MP2 level using both Pople-type basis sets and the correlation-consistent basis sets of Dunning. The structure and conformational behavior of each molecule have been analyzed and, where possible, comparisons made to the analogous amine. For systems with multiple conformers, differences in the CCP bond angle of approximately 5 degrees between conformers are common. Trends in the key parameters are identified and compared with those found in similar systems.

Empirical rules for the prediction of structures are valuable, providing aids to understanding and prediction that complement sophisticated computational methods. In this work, the structures of unsaturated five-membered rings have been predicted using sets of parameters describing distortions caused by substitutions in benzene and other rings. Effects on the structures of unsaturated five-membered rings due to both ring-member and substituent changes are found to be additive. Moreover, distortions caused by chlorine substitution observed for aromatic six-membered rings can be directly transferred to unsaturated five-membered rings with satisfying accuracy. The analysis has made use of data obtained by study of the structures of 2,5-dichlorothiophene and 3,4-dichloro-1,2,5-thiadiazole by gas-phase electron diffraction and computational chemistry methods.

The accurate structures of silsesquioxanes Si8O12H8 and Si8O12Me8 have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction methods in order to obtain experimental data on single molecules unconstrain...

The gas-phase structures of Al(But)3 and Ga(But)3 have been investigated by electron diffraction and are shown to consist of monomeric units with very slightly pyramidal geometries. Salient structural parameters (rh1) include r(Al-C) = 2.008(2) Å and r(Ga-C) = 2.032(2) Å. For both compounds the ligand orientations and geometries are controlled by interligand interactions. The structures of M(But)3 (M = Al, Ga, In) have been calculated ab initio and those for the aluminium and gallium derivatives are in good agreement with the electron-diffraction structures. Comparison of the ab initio calculated structure of In(But)3 with those of Al(But)3 and Ga(But)3 suggests that the significantly different photochemistry exhibited by the former does not result from structural factors. In fact the compounds undergo a charge-transfer process in the UV region, with the wavelength required calculated to be slightly longer for the indium compound than for the other two.

A novel compact electron gun for use in time-resolved gas electron diffraction experiments has recently been designed and commissioned. In this paper we present and discuss the extensive simulations that were performed to underpin the design in terms of the spatial and temporal qualities of the pulsed electron beam created by the ionisation of a gold photocathode using a femtosecond laser. The response of the electron pulses to a solenoid lens used to focus the electron beam has also been studied. The simulated results show that focussing the electron beam affects the overall spatial and temporal resolution of the experiment in a variety of ways, and that factors that improve the resolution of one parameter can often have a negative effect on the other. A balance must, therefore, be achieved between spatial and temporal resolution. The optimal experimental time resolution for the apparatus is predicted to be 416 fs for studies of gas-phase species, while the predicted spatial resolution of better than 2 nm-1 compares well with traditional time-averaged electron diffraction set-ups.

Conformational studies of triethylchlorosilane (TECS) and triethylbromosilane (TEBS) and the elucidation of their gas phase molecular structures have been accomplished by the combined use of theoretical (ab initio and density functional theory) calculations and experimental data from gas phase electron diffraction experiments. Additionally, analysis of the experimental features observed in the IR and Raman spectra recorded for both compounds has allowed us to propose a complete description of the vibrational spectra of both compounds, including an explanation of certain bands, which can only be correctly assigned when more than one conformer is considered to be present.

The gas-phase structure of 6,9-CSB8H12 has been determined by electron diffraction and ab initio calculations, and that of 6,9-CNB8H13 has also been calculated. The accuracy of each structure has been confirmed by 11B NMR calculations. The position of the sulfur atom is very close to that of the boron atom occupying the equivalent position in the parent molecule [B10H14](2-), reflecting the similarity of sizes of sulfur and boron atoms. The nitrogen and carbon atoms, on the other hand, lie much closer to the centers of the cages. The B8-X9-B10 angles increase from 98.7 degrees for X = S to 122.8 degrees for X = N. There are also large changes in relative lengths of bonds, with some bonds lengthening by up to 14.6 pm on introduction of a sulfur atom.

The structures of the molecules (XMe2Si)2C(SiMe3)2, where X = H, Cl, Br, have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) using the SARACEN method of restraints, with all analogues existing in the gas phase as mixtures of C1- and C2-symmetric conformers. Variable temperature (1)H and (29)Si solution-phase NMR studies, as well as (13)C NMR and (1)H/(29)Si NMR shift correlation and (1)H NMR saturation transfer experiments for the chlorine and bromine analogues, are reported. At low temperatures in solution there appear to be two C1 conformers and two C2 conformers, agreeing with the isolated-molecule calculations used to guide the electron diffraction refinements. For (HMe2Si)2C(SiMe3)2 the calculations indicated six conformers close in energy, and these were modeled in the GED refinement.

A novel compact time-resolved electron diffractometer has been built with the primary goal of studying the ultrafast molecular dynamics of photoexcited gas-phase molecules. Here, we discuss the design of the electron gun, which is triggered by a Ti:Sapphire laser, before detailing a series of calibration experiments relating to the electron-beam properties. As a further test of the apparatus, initial diffraction patterns have been collected for thin, polycrystalline platinum samples, which have been shown to match theoretical patterns. The data collected demonstrate the focusing effects of the magnetic lens on the electron beam, and how this relates to the spatial resolution of the diffraction pattern.

This chapter deals with gas-phase molecular structure determinations of neutral boranes and heteroboranes employing the techniques of gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and/or modern quantum chemical calculations. Such calculations were useful for computing various observables in order to facilitate the analysis of the electron diffraction data. Additionally, microwave spectroscopy was utilized for the two thiaboranes (in conjunction with the University of Oslo). Unless otherwise stated, the samples used for the work described throughout this chapter originated from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Řež while the GED studies were performed mainly in the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh.

The molecular structure of closo-9,12-(SH)2-1,2-C2B10H10 has been determined by the concerted use of quantum chemical calculations and gas electron diffraction (GED). For the purposes of GED, the architecture of the carbaborane cage was simplified to allow it to have C2v symmetry, while the positioning of the thiol groups means that the molecule had overall C1 symmetry. The accuracy of the experimental structure, as well as that calculated at the MP2(full)/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level, has been gauged by comparison of experimental (11)B NMR chemical shifts with those calculated using gauge-invariant atomic orbitals (GIAO) methods. The inclusion of electron correlation in the magnetic property calculations (GIAO-MP2) gave superior results to those carried out using GIAO-HF. The electronic structure of this derivative, with respect to its directional interaction with a metal surface, is outlined.

The gas-phase structures of tricyclo-P3(CBut)2Cl and PCBut have been determined by electron diffraction and associated quantum chemical calculations. Efforts to obtain detailed solid-state data for tricyclo-P3(CBut)2Cl have been thwarted by inability to prepare suitable crystalline material. Additional calculations for another tricyclic isomer of P3(CBut)2Cl and for two phosphorus-containing cyclopentadiene derivatives with pseudo-planar five-membered rings show that the experimentally observed isomer is more stable by at least 52 kJ mol-1. Calculations for the equivalent structures with P atoms replaced by CH fragments have demonstrated that a ring structure is more favourable by over 200 kJ mol-1 compared to each of two cage structures.

The equilibrium molecular structure of Si(8)O(12)(OSiMe(3))(8) has been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction (GED). With OSi-containing substituents on the cage silicon atoms, this molecule contains a moiety, which would, if reproduced in a periodic manner, yield a zeolite-type structure. Extensive ab initio calculations were used to identify two conformers of this molecule, with D(4) and D(2) point-group symmetries; the D(4)-symmetric conformer was approximately 1.2 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy. With 132 atoms in each conformer, this is one of the largest studies to be undertaken using gas electron diffraction. Semiempirical molecular-dynamics (SE-MD) calculations were used to give amplitudes of vibration, vibrational distance corrections (differences between interatomic distances in the equilibrium structure and the vibrationally averaged distances that are given directly by the diffraction data), and anharmonic constants. The structure of Si(8)O(12)(CHCH(2))(8) has also been determined by GED. Calculations showed that the vinyl groups are fairly unhindered and rotate between three minimum-energy positions. Ultimately, all possible combinations of the vinyl groups in these low-energy positions were accounted for in the GED model.

The molecular structure and conformational properties of S -ethyl trifluorothioacetate, CF3 COSCH2 CH3, were determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman). The experimental investigations were supplemented by ab initio (Møller Plesset of second order) and density functional theory quantum chemical calculations at different levels of theory. Both experimental and theoretical methods reveal two structures with Cs (anti, anti) and C1 (anti, gauche) symmetries, although there are disagreements about which is more stable. The electron diffraction intensities are best interpreted with a mixture of 51(3)% anti, anti and 49(3)% anti, gauche conformers. This conformational preference was studied using the total energy scheme and the natural bond orbital scheme. In addition, the infrared spectra of CF3 COSCH2 CH3 are reported for the gas, liquid and solid phases as well as the Raman spectrum of the liquid. Using calculated frequencies as a guide, evidence for both Cs and C1 structures is obtained in the IR spectra. Harmonic vibrational frequencies and scaled force fields have been calculated for both conformers. Fil: Defonsi Lestard, Maria Eliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Física; Argentina Fil: Tuttolomondo, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Física; Argentina Fil: Wann, Derek A.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido Fil: Robertson, Heather E.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido Fil: Rankin, David W. H.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido Fil: Ben Altabef, Aída. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Física; Argentina

Gas-phase electron-diffraction scattering data and dipolar couplings from NMR experiments in four different liquid crystal solvents have been combined to give a high-accuracy molecular structure of 1,4-difluorobenzene. The anisotropic components of the CF and FF indirect couplings have been deduced directly from the experimental data. The resultant structure has standard deviations of around 0.2 pm for interatomic distances and less than 0.2° for inter-bond angles.

The structures of the molecules methylamine-borane, MeH2N·BH3, and dimethylamine-borane, Me2HN·BH3, have been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations. The crystal structures have also been determined for methylamine-, dimethylamine-, and trimethylamine-borane, MenH3-nN·BH3 (n = 1-3); these are noteworthy for what they reveal about the intermolecular interactions and, particularly, the N-H···H-B dihydrogen bonding in the cases where n = 1 or 2. Hence, structures are now known for all the members of the ammonia- and amine-borane series MenH3-nN·BH3 (n = 0-3) in both the gas and solid phases. The structural variations and energetics of formation of the gaseous adducts are discussed in relation to the basicity of the MenH3-nN fragment. The relative importance of secondary interactions in the solid adducts with n = 0-3 has been assessed by the semi-classical density sums (SCDS-PIXEL) approach.

The molecular structures of methylphosphine (CH3PH2) and methylphosphine-borane (CH3PH2·BH3) have been determined from gas-phase electron diffraction data and rotational constants, employing the SARACEN method. The experimental geometric parameters generally showed a good agreement with those obtained using ab initio calculations and previous microwave spectroscopy studies. In order to assess the accuracy of the calculated structures a range of ab initio methods were used, including the CCSD(T) method, with correlation-consistent basis sets. The structural environment around the phosphorus atom was found to change significantly upon complexation with borane, with the P-C bond length shortening and the bond angles widening.

The molecular structure of 1-selena-closo-dodecaborane(11), 1-SeB11H11, has been determined by the concerted use of quantum chemical calculations and gas-phase electron diffraction. The structure has C5v symmetry and is distorted from a regular icosahedron mainly through the expansion of the pentagon of boron atoms adjacent to selenium, with ra3,1(B-B) = 192.2(2) pm. The Se-B bond length is extremely well determined [ra3,1(Se-B) = 212.9(2) pm] and this is reflected by a pronounced peak in the radial-distribution curve. The accuracy of the experimental structure, as well as that calculated at the MP2/962(d) level, has been gauged by comparison of the 11B chemical shifts (calculated at two different gauge-including atomic orbitals (GIAO) levels) with experimental NMR values. The inclusion of electron correlation in the magnetic property calculations (GIAO-MP2) gave superior results to those carried out using GIAO-Hartree-Fock.

The gas-phase structures of 1,2,3-trifluorobenzene, 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene, 2,6-difluoropyridine, and 2,6-dichloropyridine have been determined using electron diffraction and computational methods. The accuracy afforded by modern experimental methods has allowed subtle trends to be identified in the geometrical parameters of the rings. Comparisons have also been made between experimental and theoretical structures. Although the effects of multiple fluorine substituents on a benzene ring are shown to be more or less additive, distortions caused by replacement of a ring carbon atom by nitrogen and by halogen substituents are not.

The structure of quinuclidine, HC(CH2CH2)3N, has been re-investigated by quantum chemical calculations and by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). The GED data, together with published rotational constants, have been analysed using the SARACEN method to determine the most reliable structure (rh1) for the gaseous molecule. The structures of two adducts of quinuclidine with group 13 trihydride molecules, MH3 (M = B, Al), have also been determined by GED and quantum chemical calculations. The effect of the coordination of these hydrides to the quinuclidine nitrogen atom has been investigated, and the structural changes and energetics of adduct formation are discussed. We also present the crystal structure of quinuclidine borane.

The molecular structures of the three heterodecaboranes arachno-6,9-C2B8H14, arachno-6,9-N2B8H12, and arachno-6,9-Se2B8H10 have been determined by ab initio MO theory. In addition, the structure of arachno-6,9-C2B8H14 was experimentally determined using gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). The accuracy of all four of these structures has been confirmed by the good agreement of the (11)B chemical shifts calculated at the GIAO-MP2 level with the experimental values. A comparison of the GIAO-HF and GIAO-MP2 methods shows that for these heteroborane clusters, electron correlation effects on the computed delta((11)B) values are quite substantial and that it is necessary to go beyond the HF level in the NMR computation.

The structures of the D3h-symmetric molecules dodecafluoro-1,6-distibatriptycene and dodecafluoro-1,6-dibismatriptycene [Z2(C6F4)3 (Z = Sb, Bi)] have been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction, using the SARACEN method, with restraints obtained from quantum chemical calculations. Several methods of ab initio and density functional theory geometry calculations have been performed and recommendations made as to their relative suitabilities for determining the structures of such species. Calculations using the MP2 method with a small-core pseudopotential (aug-cc-pVQZ-PP) on the Sb and Bi atoms and the 6-311G* basis set on the light atoms were found to give the closest correlation with the experimental results for both molecules. Differences in structure were found depending on whether a large-core or small-core pseudopotential was used on the heavy atoms.

The molecular structures of a family of eight aminodifluorophosphines, (PF2)NRR' (R, R' = H, CH3, SiH3, GeH3, PF2), have been redetermined using gas-phase electron diffraction data and high-level ab initio molecular-orbital calculations. The SARACEN method has allowed the application of flexible restraints, giving greater accuracy and precision of structure, while the SHRINK program has allowed curvilinear corrections for vibrational effects to be applied to intramolecular distances. The more accurate structures of these eight compounds show consistent patterns of effects attributable to the various substituents, while conformations are dominated by the requirement that adjacent phosphorus and nitrogen lone pairs of electrons should be orthogonal.

The equilibrium molecular structure of octaphenyloctasilsesquioxane Si(8)O(12)Ph(8) in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. It was found to have D(4) point-group symmetry, with Si-O bond lengths of 1.634(15)-1.645(19) A, and a narrow range [147.5(45)-149.8(24) degrees] of Si-O-Si angles. The structures of Si(8)O(12)(p-tolyl)(8) and Si(8)O(12)(p-ClCH(2)C(6)H(4))(8) have been determined by X-ray diffraction and are found to have Si(8)O(12) cages significantly distorted from the symmetry found for Si(8)O(12)Ph(8) in the gas phase. Thus, Si-O-Si angles range between 144.2(2)-151.64(16) degrees for Si(8)O(12)(p-tolyl)(8), and between 138.8(2)-164.2(2) degrees for Si(8)O(12)(p-ClCH(2)C(6)H(4))(8). These three structures show how much a Si(8)O(12) cage may be distorted away from an ideal structure, free from intermolecular forces, by packing forces in a crystalline lattice.

The equilibrium molecular structure of the hexasilsesquioxane, Si6O9(OSiMe3)6, has been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction. With OSi-containing substituents on the cage silicon atoms, this molecule closely resembles the moiety that if reproduced in a periodic manner would yield a zeolite-type structure. Semi-empirical molecular-dynamics (SE-MD) calculations were used to give amplitudes of vibration, vibrational distance corrections (differences between interatomic distances in the equilibrium structure and the vibrationally averaged distances that are given directly by the diffraction data) and anharmonic constants. A number of different SE-MD methods were tested, and their results are compared. The inclusion of d-type orbitals in the SE-MD method is crucial for obtaining accurate vibrational quantities for Si6O9(OSiMe3)6, with the PM6 and MNDO/D methods both giving acceptable values

The structure of 1,4-B4S2(NMe2)4 has been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations and is compared with the known solid-state structure. While these structures are similar, with a twisted ring geometry [the dihedral angle S-B-B-S from electron diffraction is 75.4(16)°], they are strikingly different to the solid-state structure of 1,4-B4O2(OH)4, which is planar. Using quantum chemical calculations, the combinations of O or S in the ring and OH or NMe2 as the substituent have been studied and it has been shown that there are two separate causes of the twisted ring. Since the calculated (and observed) structure of 1,4-B4O2(OH)4 is planar but that of 1,4-B4S2(OH)4 is twisted, it is concluded that the inclusion of sulfur in the ring twists the structure by approximately 40°. By comparing the structures of 1,4-B4S2(OH)4 and 1,4-B4S2(NMe2)4 it has been determined that the twist caused by the NMe2 groups is around 30°.

The structure of the vapour produced upon heating the dimethylalkoxygallane [Me2GaOCH2CH2NMe2]2 has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations; only the monomeric form [Me2GaOCH2CH2NMe2] is observed in the vapour, with the nitrogen atom forming a dative bond with the metal centre.

The molecular structure of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-η4-1,3-diphosphacyclobutadiene tin has been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction using both the DYNAMITE and SARACEN methods. The suitability of many different theoretical methods for the calculation of structures of half-sandwich main-group metal complexes has been investigated, and, by comparison of the results with the experimental structures, suggestions have been made as to the most suitable methods for this class of compound.