Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectra (FT-IRAS)
have been obtained for adsorbed monolayers
of propene and a set of fluorinated propenes
(CFH2CHCH2,
CF3CHCH2, and
CF3CFCF2) on the Cu(111) surface. These species interact weakly with the copper
surface. The FT-IRAS spectra indicate that the
molecules lie flat with the plane of the molecule defined by the
CCC atoms essentially parallel to the
surface regardless of the degree of fluorination. Quantitative
analysis of the orientation of hexafluoropropene
determines the tilt of the molecular plane with respect to the surface
to be 11°. The results for propene
indicate a molecular tilt of 20°. Where the ν(CC) mode
can be identified in the spectra of the adsorbed
molecules, there is no perturbation of its frequency, which indicates
that there is little backdonation between
the metal and the π* orbital of the propene.