Low-temperature crystallization and structure determination of N-(trifluoromethyl)formamide, N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)formamide and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl isocyanide

Crystals of N-(trifluoromethyl)formamide, C(2)H(2)F(3)NO, (I), N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)formamide, C(3)H(4)F(3)NO, (II), and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl isocyanide, C(3)H(2)F(3)N, (III), were grown in situ on an X-ray diffractometer and analysed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods at low temperatures. Crystal data: (I) orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 4.547 (2) Å, b = 5.947 (3) Å, c = 14.731 (9) Å, V = 398.3 (4) Å(3), Z = 4, M(r) = 113.05, T = 143 K, D(x) = 1.885 Mg m(-3); (II) monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 4.807 (1) Å, b = 16.707 (3) Å, c = 6.708 (1) Å, beta = 109.90 (1) degrees, V = 506.6 (2) Å(3), Z = 4, M(r) = 127.07, T = 141 K, D(x) = 1.666 Mg m(-3); (III) orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 5.668 (2) Å, b = 9.266 (3) Å, c = 8.626 (2) Å, V = 453.0 (2) Å(3), Z = 4, M(r) = 109.06, T = 163 K, D(x) = 1.599 Mg m(-3). The results showed that in the crystal both formamides (I) and (II) are exclusively present in the form of the Z isomer, although measurements of solutions of (I) have shown that the E isomer prevails [Lentz et al. (1987). Angew. Chem. 99, 951-953]. In addition ab initio calculations for (I) predicted the E isomer to be the more stable one. In compound (III) the isocyanide group is staggered with respect to the trifluoroethyl group. In the crystal packing of (I) and (II) intermolecular N-H.O hydrogen bonds generate infinite chains. In (I), these chains are linked to form sheets by C-H.O contacts. In the crystal structure of (III) each isocyanide dipole is surrounded by four electronegative F atoms with intermolecular C.F contacts between 3.4 and 3.5 Å.