Molecular structure of trimethylphosphine-boron trichloride by gas electron diffraction

The molecular structure of trimethylphosphine-boron trichloride (CH3)3P.BCl3 has been determined from gas electron-diffraction data. The structure parameters and uncertainties are r sub(g)(P-B) = 1.941(16) A, r sub(g)(B-Cl) = 1.851(7) A, r sub(g)(C-P) = 1.800(4) A, r sub(g)(C-H) = 1.099(5) A, r sub(g)(Cl...Cl) = 3.022(5) A, and r sub(g)(C...C) = 2.936(10) A. The potential barrier about the P-B axis is 3.8 +- 0.7 kcal mol-1 in the gas phase. The data show that the molecular structure in the gas phase is nearly equal to that in the solid phase. (author)