Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid adopts a specific molecular structure in the gas phase.
the verdict
INSUFFICIENT LEANING
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
2 sources for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
The retrieved sources discuss structural investigations and theoretical discussions regarding trifluoromethanesulfonic acid in the gas phase, but they offer only partial or inconclusive details regarding its precise molecular point group symmetry.
# Electron Diffraction Investigation of the Molecular Structure of Trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (triflic acid)
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A. Published: 1981-08-01. 16 citations.
## Authors
- György Schultz (Hungarian Academy of Sciences): h-index 19; 1,268 citations
- István Hargittai (University of Oslo): h-index 43; 8,525 citations
- Ragnhild Seip (University of Oslo): h-index 33; 3,803 citations
## Topics
- Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds
- Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Advanced Chemical Physics Studies
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# Electron Diffraction Investigation of the Molecular Structure of Trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (triflic acid)
of the least-squares refinement are given in Table 1 . 1 .
## Mean amplitudes of vibration have been coupled in groups as shown in Table
The bond lengths (r g ) and bond angles characterising the triflic acid molecule together with the estimated total errors [5] are collected in the Abstract.
The sulphur bond configuration and the geometry of the CF3 group are normal and consistent with earlier observations for analogous molecules. The C-S bond is rather long and is closer to that in CF3SO2CI, 185.7 ± 0.6 pm [2] than to that in CH3SO2CI
# What is the structure of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid in the gas phase?
Tags: acid-base, reference-request, molecular-structure, organosulfur-compounds
- Score: 13
- Views: 642
- Answers: 1
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Jan (69794 rep)
- Asked: 2016-06-03
- Edited: 2024-02-29
- Site: chemistry
## Question
During an interesting discussion in our group’s seminar, the question arose what actually causes trifluoroacetic acid to be a much better nucleophile than trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. Part of the discussion was whether the oxygens of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid were equal or not.
Traditionally, $\ce{TfOH}$ is drawn as shown in the structure below on the left. The structure would assume the molecule having point group $C_\mathrm{s}$ due to the non-equality of the oxygen atoms only one of which bears a hydrogen. The triflate anion $\ce{TfO-}$ in solution, on the other hand, has three homotopic oxygens as can be seen in the structure on the right, leading to the more symmetric point group $C_\mathrm{3v}$.
One of the opinions voiced in the discussion was that even the gas-phase molecule $\ce{TfOH}$ adopted a $C_\mathrm{3v}$ point group, the hydrogen being in the same axis as
Everything we examined (2)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.