The photoelectron spectrum and conformation of phenylphosphine and phenylarsine

He(I) and He(II) photoelectron spectra of phenylphosphine and phenylarsine have been investigated and assigned. The rotational barrier of the phosphino group has been investigated at the MP2/6-31G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p) and HF/6-31G(d,p)//HF/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, and that of the arsino group at the HF/6-31G(d,p)//6-31G(d,p) levels of theory. The rotational barrier of the two molecules is nearly the same. The energy difference between the two possible conformers of the molecules is low (1.5 kJ/mol at the MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory), allowing nearly free rotation about the P-C bond. The photoelectron spectrum cannot be interpreted by considering the most stable rotamer, but all possible conformers should be taken into account. The present interpretation is consistent with the smalln_p- π interaction concluded from other investigations. The rotational barrier ofo-phosphinophenol is significantly larger than for phenylphosphine, and the photoelectron spectrum of this compound can be interpreted by considering a single conformer, and no appreciable interaction between the π-system of the ring and the phosphorus lone pair.