Effect of fluorination on the conformational properties of methyl vinyl ether

The smallest enol, vinyl alcohol Hsub2C=C-(H)OH, is shown, by microwave spectroscopy (MW) to have a synperiplanar structure, where the O-H bond eclipses the C=C double bond. GED investigations into the geometric structure of methyl trifluorivinyl ether (MTVE), CHsub3OC(F)=CFsub2 (trifluoremethoxyethene) and perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (PMVE), CFsub3OC(F)=CFsub2 (trifluoro(trifluormethoxy)ethene), were undertaken. Of particular interest was the effect of fluorination on the conformation of MVE.