T-SYMMETRICAL GASEOUS TETRA-TERT-BUTYLTETRABORATETRAHEDRANE - AN ELECTRON-DIFFRACTION STUDY

The structure of tetra-tert-butyltetraboratetrahedrane in the gas phas e has been studied by electron diffraction. Analysis of the experiment al data obtained by electron scattering from the tetra-tert-butyltetra boratetrahedrane vapour confirmed that the molecule consisted of a B-4 tetrahedron with a B-B edge distance of 170.4(4) pm. The B-C distance s, which coincided with the C-3 axes of the tetrahedron, were determin ed to be 158.0(6) pm. There is an overall agreement between the solid state and gaseous structures of the B4C4 core. The approximately stagg ered conformations around the C-C and B-C bonds in the gas phase resul ted in an overall symmetry of T. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science L td