Lane JR, Saunders GC. Theoretical Study of the Structures of 4-(2,3,5,6-Tetrafluoropyridyl)Diphenylphosphine Oxide and Tris(Pentafluorophenyl)Phosphine Oxide: Why Does the Crystal Structure of (Tetrafluoropyridyl)Diphenylphosphine Oxide Have Two Different P=O Bond Lengths?
Molecules 2020;
25:molecules25122778. [PMID:
32560206 PMCID:
PMC7356340 DOI:
10.3390/molecules25122778]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The crystal structure of 4-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridyl)diphenylphosphine oxide (1) contains two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Although the molecules are virtually identical in all other aspects, the P=O bond distances differ by ca. 0.02 Å. In contrast, although tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine oxide (2) has a similar crystal structure, the P=O bond distances of the two independent molecules are identical. To investigate the reason for the difference, a density functional theory study was undertaken. Both structures comprise chains of molecules. The attraction between molecules of 1, which comprises lone pair-π, weak hydrogen bonding and C-H∙∙∙arene interactions, has energies of 70 and 71 kJ mol-1. The attraction between molecules of 2 comprises two lone pair-π interactions, and has energies of 99 and 100 kJ mol-1. There is weak hydrogen bonding between molecules of adjacent chains involving the oxygen atom of 1. For one molecule, this interaction is with a symmetry independent molecule, whereas for the other, it also occurs with a symmetry related molecule. This provides a reason for the difference in P=O distance. This interaction is not possible for 2, and so there is no difference between the P=O distances of 2.
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