Molecular structure of F2POPF2: an electron diffraction study

Abstract

The most important geometric parameters and associated uncertainties (2[sigma]) determined for F2POPF2 are the distances (rg) P-O = 1.631 +/- 0.010 A, P-F = 1.568 +/- 0.004 A, and angles POP = 135.2 +/- 1.8[deg], OPF = 97.6 +/- 1.2[deg], and FPF = 99.2 +/- 2.4[deg]. Amplitudes of vibration were also found. The large POP angle and relatively short P-O bond length are consistent with a significant degree of p[pi]-d[pi] bonding. Our structure interpretation differs from an earlier one reported by Arnold and Rankin in the relative P-O and P-F bond lengths and in the conclusion that the molecule exists in a distribution of not very rigid, probably staggered, conformers instead of one fairly rigid structure.