Structure, spectra, and rearrangement mechanism of PH2F3: revisiting a classic problem in structural inorganic...

The structure, spectra, and rearrangement mechanisms of PH2F3, the first member of the PHnF5-n series and a prototype for molecules that undergo rotational isomerism, have been studied. Aided by the tools developed to compute coupled-cluster (CC) Raman intensities and NMR spin-spin couplings, a full spectroscopic characterization of PH2F3 is presented. Moreover, the structures and the energetics of the various stereoisomers are computed at the CC level (CCSD(T)) to assess the validity of proposed rearrangement mechanisms. While corroborating prior experimental IR and NMR assignments, the results are also able to remedy the "speculative" Raman and NMR assignments that lacked reliable computed values when the experiments were done. More importantly, the results identify "spectral fingerprints" that could distinguish various rotational isomers. These data, when used concurrently along with high resolution measurements, form a powerful basis for the characterization of various rotational isomers of PH2F3. A "new" stability diagram and a rearrangement path based on the computed energetic and structure data are obtained. That is far superior to what has been available in the literature.