MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF F,POPF,: AN ELECTRON DIFFRACTION STUDY

The most important geometric parameters and associated uncertainties (20) determined for F,POPF, are the distances (r,) P-O = 1.631 2 0.010 A, P-F = 1.568 I 0.004 A, and angles POP = 135.2 + l-8”, OPF = 97.6 + l-2”, and FPF = 99.2 f 2.4”. Amplitudes of vibration were also found. The large POP angle and relatively short P-O bond length are consistent with a significant degree of ps-dn 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