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Diketene (4-methylideneoxetan-2-one) is a precursor to the formation of either two molecules of ketene, or allene and CO2 using pyrolysis techniques. It is not known experimentally which of these pathways is followed, or indeed if both are, during the dissociation process. We use computational methods to show that the formation of ketene has a lower barrier than formation of allene and CO2 under standard conditions (by 12 kJ/mol). According to CCSD(T)/CBS, CBS-QB3 and M06-2X/cc-pVTZ calculations the formation of allene and CO2 is favoured thermodynamically under standard conditions of temperature and pressure; however, kinetically the formation of ketene is favoured from transition state theory calculations at standard and elevated temperatures. Graphical abstract

The gas-phase molecular structure of iso-propyl(tert-butyl)(trichlorosilyl)phosphine has been determined using a combination of gas electron diffraction and computational methods. The structure presents a conformational challenge that required use of the SARACEN method to combine theoretical observations into the least-squares refinement process, a great advance on the techniques used to solve the structure of the parent trisilyl phosphine. Five conformers were found on the potential-energy surface for iso-propyl(tert-butyl)(trichlorosilyl)phosphine using the UCONGA program, and following a series of individual structure refinements a combined model with the two most abundant confirmers was evaluated. Key structural parameters (ra) include rP–Si [225.5(6) pm], rSi–Clmean [204.0(1) pm] and rP–Cmean [204.0(1) pm], ∠P–C–H 101.5(5)°, ∠C–C–C (iPr) 110.5(5)°, ∠C–C–C (tBu) 109.2(5)° and ∠C–P–C 105.4(5)°.

The gas-phase molecular structure of iso-propyl(

International audience; In situ dehydrogenation of azetidine-BH 3 , which is a candidate for hydrogen storage, was observed with the parent and dehydrogenated analogue subjected to rigorous structural and thermochemical investigations. The structural analyses utilized gas electron diffraction supported by high-level quantum calculations, whilst the pathway for the unimolecular hydrogen release reaction in the absence and presence of BH 3 as a bifunctional catalyst was predicted at CBS-QB3 level. The catalyzed dehydrogenation pathway has a barrier lower than the predicted B-N bond dissociation energy, hence favoring the dehydrogenation process over the dissociation of the complex. The predicted enthalpy of dehydrogenation at CCSD(T)/CBS level indicates mild reaction conditions would be required for the hydrogen release and that the compound is closer to thermoneutral than the linear amine boranes. The entropy and free energy change for the dehydrogenation process show that the reaction is exergonic, energetically feasible and will proceed spontaneously towards hydrogen release; all important factors for hydrogen storage.

International audience; The gaseous structures, thermochemical properties and dehydrogenation reaction energy profiles of the borane complexes of pyrrolidine and piperidine have been investigated using gas electron diffraction (GED) and state-of-the-art computational methods. These complexes are of interest because of their potential as hydrogen storage materials for future onboard transport applications. A comparative structural and thermochemical analysis revealed structures with a slight difference in the essential B-N bond length, with the piperidine borane having a longer bond even though it has a stronger B-N bond according to predicted bond dissociation energies, a trend common with amine boranes. To identify the most favourable dehydrogenation pathway, BH3-catalysed and BH3-uncatalysed dehydrogenation channels have been explored, where the former has been shown to be the favourable process for both complexes. The energy requirements for the hydrogen release reactions are expected to be minimal as evidenced from the calculated dehydrogenation reaction energies, implying their suitability for onboard chemical hydrogen storage.

No abstract available. published

Valuing diversity leads to scientific excellence, the progress of science and most importantly, it is simply the right thing to do. We can value diversity not only in words, but also in actions. From the structure of DNA,1 to computer science,2 and space-station batteries,3 several key scientific discoveries that enhance our lives today, were made by marginalized scientists. These three scientists, Rosalind E. Franklin, Alan M. Turing and Olga D. González-Sanabria, did not conform to the cultural expectations of how scientists should look and behave. Unfortunately, marginalized scientists are often viewed as just a resource rather than the lifeblood that constitutes science itself. We need to embrace scientists from all walks of life and corners of the globe; this will also mean that nobody is excluded from tackling the life-threatening societal challenges that lie ahead. An awareness of science policy is essential to safeguarding our future. Science policy deals with creating the framework and codes of conduct that determine how science can best serve society.4-6 Discussions around science policy are often accompanied by anecdotes of “good” and “bad” practices regarding the merits of diversity and inclusion. Excellence and truth, which flow inexorably from diversity and inclusion, are the bedrocks upon which science should influence political and economic outcomes. A vital area of science policy is to support the professional development of marginalized scientists, an objective that must be acted upon by scientific leaders and communicators...

The gas-phase molecular structure of ketene has been determined using samples generated by the pyrolysis of acetic anhydride (giving acetic acid and ketene), using one permutation of the very-high-temperature (VHT) inlet nozzle system designed and constructed for the gas electron diffraction (GED) apparatus based at the University of Canterbury. The gas-phase structures of acetic anhydride, acetic acid, and ketene are presented and compared to previous electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy data to show improvements in data extraction and manipulation with current methods. Acetic anhydride was modeled with two conformers, rather than a complex dynamic model as in the previous study, to allow for inclusion of multiple pyrolysis products. The redetermined gas-phase structure of acetic anhydride (obtained using the structure analysis restrained by ab initio calculations for electron diffraction method) was compared to that from the original study, providing an improvement on the description of the low vibrational torsions compared to the dynamic model. Parameters for ketene and acetic acid (both generated by the pyrolysis of acetic anhydride) were also refined with higher accuracy than previously reported in GED studies, with structural parameter comparisons being made to prior experimental and theoretical studies.

The ground-breaking properties of biaxially textured thin films have attracted increasing attention to the characterization and growth theory of their crystal morphologies. In particular, multi-faceted columnar structures developed during oblique angle deposition (OAD) show abnormal tilt angles that have not been previously captured by existing models. Current theories for the formation of biaxially aligned columnar structures overlook the fact that the surface diffusion on individual facets can be finite. In this work, a continuum model incorporating finite adatom mobility, flux-dependent sticking coefficient, and material-specific surface energies is employed to study the growth of a well-known MgO-OAD system. Experimentally observed morphologies are reproduced by simulating the shadowing growth of an array of preferentially oriented single crystals. We show that the abnormal tilting is elusive considering only the effects of faceting and shadowing. A proposed sticking coefficient in our model, determined by the component of adatom momentum parallel to the surface, is responsible for the development of abnormal tilting. The role of faceting is demonstrated by its effect on the resulting columnar morphologies. Using the proposed model, the characteristic morphology and tilting behavior of a CaF 2-OAD system are also obtained, which agree with experiments.

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Alumina synthesis presents an opportunity to study the processing science of direct liquid injection pulsed-pressure MOCVD. The current study uses three alumina precursors and two solvent systems to study the physical chemistry of the flash evaporation processes that can occur in the pulsed-pressure approach from fundamental considerations and experimental observation. Three precursors were studied, aluminum tri-isopropoxide, aluminum tri-secbutoxide, and aluminum tri-tertbutoxide, with hexane and toluene solvents. Scoping studies identified the deposition temperature range for each precursor using silicon substrates. All deposited materials were amorphous alumina with the characteristic spheroidal microstructure. The morphology of the surfaces was used to provide the evidence to study the degree of flash evaporation, and the possible arrival of liquid droplets or solid aerosol particles. The morphological evidence consists of SEM images showing uniform coatings deposited from vapor arrival, and clusters about the size of the expected aerosols formed when droplets freeze or precursor is concentrated and dried out after flash evaporation of the solvent. The volatility of the solvent and precursor is less important for determining what degree of flash evaporation or aerosol deposition occurs than the relative diffusivity of the precursor compared to the solvent.

Molecular properties depend on molecular structure, so the first step in any computational chemistry investigation is to generate all thermally accessible conformers. Typically it is necessary to make a trade-off between the number of conformers to be explored and the accuracy of the method used to calculate their energies. Ab initio potential energy surface scans can, in principle, be applied to any molecule, but their conformational cost scales poorly with both molecular size and dimensionality of the search space. Specialized conformer generation techniques rely on parameterized force fields and may also use knowledge-based rules for generating conformers, and are typically only available for drug-like organic molecules. Neither approach is well-suited to generating or identifying chemically sensible conformers for larger non-organic molecules. The Universal CONformer Generation and Analysis (UCONGA) program package fills this niche. It requires no parameters other than built-in atomic van der Waals radii to generate comprehensive ensembles of sterically-allowed conformers, for molecules of arbitrary composition and connectivity. Analysis scripts are provided to identify representative structures from clusters of similar conformers, which may be further refined by subsequent geometry optimization. This approach is particularly useful for molecules not described by parameterized force fields, as it minimizes the number of computationally intensive ab initio calculations required to characterize the conformer ensemble. We anticipate that UCONGA will be particularly useful for computational and structural chemists studying flexible non-drug-like molecules.

The molecular structure of morpholine borane complex has been studied in the solid state and gas phase using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, gas electron diffraction, and computational methods. Despite both the solid-state and gas-phase structures adopting the same conformation, a definite decrease in the B–N bond length of the solid-state structure was observed. Other structural variations in the different phases are presented and discussed. To explore the hydrogen storage potential of morpholine borane, the potential energy surface for the uncatalyzed and BH3-catalyzed pathways, as well as the thermochemistry for the hydrogen release reaction, were investigated using accurate quantum chemical methods. It was observed that both the catalyzed and uncatalyzed dehydrogenation pathways are favourable, with a barrier lower than the B–N bond dissociation energy, thus indicating a strong propensity for the complex to release a hydrogen molecule rather than dissociate along the B–N bond axis. A minimal energy requirement for the dehydrogenation reaction has been shown. The reaction is close to thermoneutral as demonstrated by the calculated dehydrogenation reaction energies, thus implying that this complex could demonstrate potential for future on-board hydrogen generation.

The structures of the molecules C(SiXMe2)4 (X=H, F, Cl, Br) have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED). Ab initio calculations revealed nine potential minima for each species, with significant ranges of energies. For the H, F, Cl, and Br derivatives nine, seven, two, and two conformers were modelled, respectively, as they were quantum-chemically predicted to be present in measurable quantities. Variable-temperature 1H and 29Si solution-phase NMR studies and, where applicable, 13C NMR, 1H/29Si NMR shift-correlation, and 1H NMR saturation-transfer experiments are reported for C(SiXMe2)4 (X=H, Cl, Br, and also I). At low temperature in solution two conformers (one C1-symmetric and one C2-symmetric) are observed for each of C(SiXMe2)4 (X=Cl, Br, I), in agreement with the isolated molecule ab initio calculations carried out as part of this work for X=Cl, Br. C(SiHMe2)4 is present as a single C1-symmetric conformer in solution at the temperatures at which the NMR experiments were performed.

The gas-phase structures of the disilanes 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)disilane [(Me3Si)2HSiSiH(SiMe3)2] (1) and 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)dimethyldisilane [(Me3Si)2MeSiSiMe(SiMe3)2] (2) have been determined by density functional theoretical calculations and by gas electron diffraction (GED) employing the SARACEN method. For each of 1 and 2 DFT calculations revealed four C2-symmetric conformers occupying minima on the respective potential-energy surfaces; three conformers were estimated to be present in sufficient quantities to be taken into account when fitting the GED data. For (Me3Si)2RSiSiR(SiMe3)2 [R = H (1), CH3 (2)] the lowest energy conformers were found by GED to have RSiSiR dihedral angles of 87.7(17)° for 1 and -47.0(6)° for 2. For each of 1 and 2 the presence of bulky and flexible trimethylsilyl groups dictates many aspects of the geometric structures in the gas phase, with the molecules often adopting structures that reduce steric strain.

The gas-phase molecular structures of a series of halogen-substituted disilanes [X3SiSiMe3 (X = H, F, Cl and Br)], 1,1,1-trimethyldisilane (H3SiSiMe3), 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (F3SiSiMe3), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (Cl3SiSiMe3) and 1,1,1-tribromo-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (Br3SiSiMe3), have been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction. Ab initio calculations at the HF and MP2 level were used to support the experimental investigation using the SARACEN method. All of the investigated structures were determined to adopt a staggered structure with C 3v symmetry. The effect of substitution on the Si–Si bond and the Si–Si–X bond angle was investigated and these results were compared to results obtained from a recent study of halogen-substituted disilanes [X3SiSiXMe2 (X = F, Cl, Br and I)] to consider the effect of the methyl groups on the substituted disilanes.

The molecular structure of 1,1,1,2-tetrabromo-2,2-dimethyldisilane (Br3SiSiBrMe2) has been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction and ab initio molecular-orbital calculations. The computational investigation was used to augment the experimental investigation using the Structure Analysis Restrained by Ab initio Calculations for Electron diffractioN (SARACEN) method. The structure was found to adopt a staggered structure with C s symmetry by both theory and experiment. Important structural parameters (r h1) include: rSi–Si 235.6(5) pm, rSi–C 185.4(3) pm, rSi–Brav 220.3(1) pm, ∠Si–Si–Br(14) 106.1(4)°, ∠Si–Si–C 109.2(8)° and ϕBr–Si–Si–Br 180.0°(fixed). These experimental observations are supported by theoretical predictions obtained at the MP2/6-311+G* level. An analogous theoretical investigation was also performed for the series X3SiSiXMe2 (X = F, Cl and I) and structural trends identified. The Si–X bond was observed to lengthen as a function of the halogen substituent, with corresponding changes to the Si–Si–X bond angles in the SiX3 groups. The Si–Si–X bond angle in the SiXMe2 groups displayed rather different behaviour, and was relatively stable to substitution until X = I. The flexible nature of bond angles about silicon atoms was observed, even in this relatively sterically unhindered system.

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.

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.

A new method of incorporating ab initio theoretical data dynamically into the gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) refinement process has been developed to aid the structure determination of large, sterically crowded molecules. This process involves calculating a set of differences between parameters that define the positions of peripheral atoms (usually hydrogen), as determined using molecular mechanics (MM), and those which use ab initio methods. The peripheral-atom positions are then updated continually during the GED refinement process, using MM, and the returned positions are modified using this set of differences to account for the differences between ab initio and MM methods, before being scaled back to the average parameters used to define them, as refined from experimental data. This allows the molecule to adopt a completely asymmetric structure if required, without being constrained by the MM parametrization, whereas the calculations can be performed on a practical time scale. The molecular structures of tri-tert-butylphosphine oxide and tri-tert-butylphosphine imide have been re-examined using this new technique, which we call SEMTEX (Structure Enhancement Methodology using Theory and EXperiment).

The molecular structure of 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilane has been determined in three different phases (solid, liquid, and gas) using various spectroscopic and diffraction techniques. Both the solid-state and gas-phase investigations revealed only one conformer to be present in the sample analyzed, whereas the liquid phase revealed the presence of three conformers. The data have been reproduced using computational methods and a rationale is presented for the observation of three conformers in the liquid state.

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.

There have been numerous gas-phase investigations of molecular structures of inorganic molecules. This chapter discusses those determined using both traditional gas electron diffraction (GED) and ultrafast electron diffraction, either from diffraction data alone or in combination with information from various experimental methods including mass spectrometry, liquid-crystal nuclear magnetic resonance, and rotational spectroscopy. Computational methods have also emerged as an invaluable source of information that can be used to augment experimental structural investigations, with various different methods available to incorporate them into the refinement process. Innovation in the field of GED is discussed with pertinent examples. Recent advances in technology that have enabled dynamic processes to be observed are discussed. The future direction of GED is also considered.

The molecular structures of 1,2-closo-P(2)B(10)H(10) (1) and 1,2-closo-As(2)B(10)H(10) (2) have been determined by gas electron diffraction and the results obtained compared with those from computation at the MP2/6-31G** level of theory. The level of agreement is good for 2 (root-mean-square [rms] misfit for As and B atoms 0.0297 Å) and very good for 1 (rms misfit for P and B atoms 0.0082 Å). In comparing the structures of 1 and 2 with that of 1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(12) (I) it is evident that expansion of the polyhedron from I to 1 to 2 is restricted only to the heteroatom vertices and the B(6) face to which these are bound. Following deboronation (at B3) and subsequent metallation, compounds 1 and 2 have been converted into the new metalladiheteroboranes 3-(η-C(9)H(7))-3,1,2-closo-CoAs(2)B(9)H(9) (4), 3-(η-C(10)H(14))-3,1,2-closo-RuAs(2)B(9)H(9) (5), 3-(η-C(5)H(5))-3,1,2-closo-CoP(2)B(9)H(9) (6), 3-(η-C(9)H(7))-3,1,2-closo-CoP(2)B(9)H(9) (7) and 3-(η-C(10)H(14))-3,1,2-closo-RuP(2)B(9)H(9) (8), the last three constituting the first examples of metalladiphosphaboranes. Together with the known compound 3-(η-C(5)H(5))-3,1,2-closo-CoAs(2)B(9)H(9) (3), compounds 4-8 have been analysed by NMR spectroscopy and (except for 8) single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The (11)B NMR spectra of analogous pairs of metalladiphosphaborane and metalladiarsaborane (6 and 3, 7 and 4, 8 and 5) reveal a consistently narrower (9-10 ppm) chemical shift range for the metalladiarsaboranes, the combined result of a deshielding of the lowest frequency resonance (B6) and an increased shielding of the highest frequency resonance (B8) via an antipodal effect. In crystallographic studies, compounds 3 and 5B (one of two crystallographically-independent molecules) suffer As/B disorder, but in both cases it was possible to refine distinct, ordered, components of the disorder, the first time this has been reported for metalladiarsaboranes. Moreover, whilst the Cp compounds 6 and 3 are disordered, their indenyl analogues 7 and 4 are either ordered or significantly less disordered, a consequence of both the reduced symmetry of an indenyl ligand compared to a Cp ligand and the preference of the former for a distinct conformation relative to the cage heteroatoms. Unexpectedly, whilst this conformation in the cobaltadiphosphaborane 7 is cis-staggered (similar to that previously established for the analogous cobaltadicarborane), in the cobaltadiarsaborane 4 the conformation is close to cis-eclipsed.

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.

When refining structures using gas electron diffraction (GED) data, assumptions are often made in order to reduce the number of required geometrical parameters. Where these relate to light, peripheral atoms there is little effect on the refined heavy-atom structure, which is well defined by the GED data. However, this is not the case when heavier atoms are involved. We have determined the gas-phase structure of perfluoro(methylcyclohexane), C(6)F(11)CF(3), using three different refinement methods and have shown that our new method, which makes use of both MP2 and molecular mechanics (MM) calculations to restrain the peripheral-atom geometry, gives a realistic structure without the need for damaging constraints. Only the conformer with the CF(3) group in an equatorial position was considered, as ab initio calculations showed this to be 25 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy than the axial conformer. Refinements combining both high-level and low-level calculations to give constraints were superior both to those based only on molecular mechanics and to those in which assumptions about the geometry were imposed.

International audience; The molecularstructures of vinylarsine (CH2double bond; length as m-dashCHAsH2), vinyldichloroarsine (CH2double bond; length as m-dashCHAsCl2) and arsine (AsH3) have been determined from gas-phaseelectrondiffraction data and, in the case of vinylarsine, rotation constants, employing the SARACEN method. The structure of vinylarsine represents the first complete gas-phasestructure of a primary arsine. The experimental geometric parameters generally show good agreement with those obtained using ab initiocalculations. Key structural parameters (rh1) for vinylarsine are rAs-H = 150.5(4) pm, rAs-C = 195.1(1) pm and ∠C-C-As = 119.4(2)°. The bonding and conformational trends in both vinylarsine and vinyldichloroarsine are compared to those found in the analogous amines and phosphines.

The molecular structure of trimethylgermane has been determined by gas electron diffraction experiments. Infrared spectra for the gaseous, liquid, and solid phases were also recorded. Parallel and perpendicular polarized Raman spectra for the liquid were measured to obtain depolarization values. The experimental studies were supported by a series of computational calculations using HF, B3LYP, and MP2 methods and a variety of basis sets. The force fields obtained from density functional theory using both B3LYP/6-31G; and B3LYP/ 6-311+G; ; were scaled with both Pulay's SQM methodology and Yoshida's WLS procedure to simulate the vibrational spectra and assist in the assignment of fundamental bands. The Raman intensities were obtained from polarizability derivatives. The vibrational spectra of trimethylgermane were completely assigned on the basis of the experimental data and the theoretical prediction of vibrational frequencies and intensities. Fil: Roldan, Maria Lorena. 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 Fil: Brandan, Silvia Antonia. 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 Fil: Masters, Sarah L.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido 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

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.

Ab initio calculations were carried out to investigate the potential-energy surface for internal rotation of the methylated digermanes hexamethyldigermane Me(3)GeGeMe(3) ( 1), dichlorotetramethyldigermane Me(2)ClGeGeClMe(2) ( 2), and tetramethyldigermane Me(2)HGeGeHMe(2) ( 3). Different basis sets [6-31+G(d), SDD, aug-cc-pVTZ] were employed at the DFT and MP2 levels of theory to optimize structures and to calculate energies and vibrational frequencies. For 1, one minimum representing a staggered structure was located on the potential-energy surface. For 2 and 3, antiperiplanar conformations with C 2 symmetry were found to be the global minima. Additionally, synclinal minima were located for 2 and 3 when certain basis sets were employed. Determination of structural parameters in the gas phase by gas electron diffraction confirmed the computed predictions for all three compounds. For 2 and 3, the ratios of antiperiplanar to synclinal conformer were detected to be 90:10 (328 K) and 72:28 (293 K), respectively, by gas electron diffraction. The experimentally determined GeGe bond lengths in 1, 2, and 3 in the gas phase are 241.4(1), 242.7(2) (averaged for antiperiplanar and synclinal), and 241.7(1) pm (equal for antiperiplanar and synclinal). Only averaged structures were observed, using Raman spectroscopy, for 2 and 3 because the wavenumber differences are small between conformers and there is only a small contribution from the second conformer in each case. For 2, the crystal structure was also determined by X-ray diffraction. An anticlinal structure (with Cl atoms eclipsing the C atoms) was found with a GeGe bond length of 242.1 pm.

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 geometry of iodotrimethylgermane has been determined by experimental and computational methods. Fourier transform infrared spectra have been recorded over a range of temperatures along with the Raman spectrum to obtain comprehensive vibrational data for the fundamental modes. The stretching, rocking, and deformation bands of the methyl groups have been resolved into their components with the aid of lowtemperature infrared spectroscopy using Fourier self-deconvolution and curve-fitting methods. The optimized geometries and vibrational harmonic frequencies were calculated by density functional theory methods employing Pople-type basis sets, as well as those with descriptions for an effective core potential describing both germanium and iodine atoms. A scaled quantum mechanical analysis was carried out to yield the best set of harmonic force constants and obtain a transferable set of scale factors that can be applied to the (CH3)3- GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series. 3)3- GeX (X ) H, Cl, Br, I) series.) H, Cl, Br, I) series. Fil: Roldán, María L.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Física; Argentina Fil: Brandán, Silvia A.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química Física; Argentina Fil: Masters, Sarah L.. University of Edinburgh; Reino Unido 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, Aida. 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

The vapour produced upon mild heating of hexa-tert-butyldisilane (superdisilane) has been studied by gas electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations; the disilane is not observed in the vapour, and the observed radical structure is not the lowest energy structure predicted ab initio.

The molecular structure of a fundamental binary compound [antimony(III) oxide] has been re-determined to a far higher accuracy and precision than previously reported. The structure is compared to those determined by various ab initio methods, X-ray diffraction and to a previous gas-phase structure determined by electron diffraction prior to modern-day developments for data extraction and manipulation. The experiments utilised a new very-high-temperature (VHT) inlet nozzle system that has been designed and constructed for the gas electron diffraction (GED) apparatus now based at the University of Canterbury (formerly at the University of Edinburgh). The VHT-GED system is capable of heating samples to temperatures of up to 1100 K. The VHT system was tested by studying the gas-phase structure of antimony(III) oxide. Data were collected at 750 K and the contents of the gas flow analysed by mass spectrometry. In the gas phase at this temperature, antimony(III) oxide (Sb(2)O(3)) exists as a dimer (Sb(4)O(6)) with tetrahedral symmetry. The Sb-O bond length (r(a3,1)) was determined to be 195.66(4) pm and the O-Sb-O bond angle was 98.15(3)°. Unusually, the Sb-O bond length observed from X-ray diffraction investigation of Sb(4)O(6) was longer than the gas phase bond length [197.7(1) pm as compared to 195.66(4) pm].

The molecular structure of the bulky primary silane, (Me(3)Si)(3)CSiH(3), in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. Photolysis of (Me(3)Si)(3)CSiH(3) affords a convenient route to the bulky dialkyl disilane, [(Me(3)Si)(3)CSiH(2)](2), which is the first 1,2-dialkyldisilane to be structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The disilane has an unusually large Si-Si-C angle of 120.05(9)°.

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.