A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study at 110 K and ab
initio calculations up to the MP2/6-31G* level
of theory showed that the ground state of
P(NMe2)3 has
C
s
symmetry, with two different
coordination geometries at
the nitrogen atoms (pyramidal and planar). The calculated and
experimentally determined geometries are in good
agreement. Steric strain could be ruled out as the predominant
factor causing the deviation from the expected
C
3
symmetry, because ab initio calculations on the model system
P(NH2)3 (up to MP2/6-311G**) also indicate
C
s
symmetry for the ground-state structure, whereas calculations on
N(NH2)3 have predicted this molecule to have
C
3
symmetry. The structure of the phosphorane
H2CP(NMe2)3 has been
elucidated by X-ray diffraction in the solid
state (110 K) and by electron diffraction in the gas phase augmented by
restraints derived from ab initio calculations
up to the MP2/6-31G* level of theory. Solid-state and gas-phase
structures are in good agreement showing again
the C
s
arrangement to be the
ground-state structure of the molecule. Ab initio
calculations (MP2/6-311G**) indicate
that H2CP(NH2)3 also has
C
s
symmetry. The reasons for the
preference for C
s
rather than
C
3 symmetry adopted
by the P(NR2)3 units are discussed in terms of
steric repulsion, lone pair, and other electronic interactions.
Literature
reports of structures of derivatives containing
P(NMe2)3 units are discussed in the light of
the new results. Selected
structural results include: P(NMe2)3 (XRD,
average values); PN(1/2) 1.687, PN(3) 1.731 Å,
N(1)PN(2)
110.8, N(3)PN(1/2) 97.7°, ∑∠ at N(1/2) 355.9, at N(3)
337.6°; H2CP(NMe2)3
(GED/XRD average without
esd); PC(1) 1.620(5)/1.655(6), PN(1/2)
1.684(3)/1.668, PN(3) 1.718(6)/1.698(4) Å,
N(1)PN(2) 115.2(13)/114.7(2), N(1/2)PN(3) 97.0(5)/99.6,
C(1)PN(1/2) 110.0(5)/110.0, C(1)PN(3),
127.1(8)/122.4(4)°, ∑∠ at
N(1/2) 359.5(11)/353.4, at N(3)
332.9(13)/337.3(6)°.