Knowledge Bank

In the trigonal bipyramidal molecules, $CF3PCl4$ and $(CF3)2PCl3$, the $CF3$ group have been shown to occupy axial positions from detailed studies of their infrared and Raman $spectra.1,2$ Gas phase infrared spectral measurements extending from 4000 to $33cm-1$ indicate that the fluorocarbon groups occupy less symmetrical positions in the analogous fluorides, $CF3PF4$ and $(CF3)2PF3$. $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">1</mrow>}$J. E. Griffiths, J. Chem Phys, 41. 3510 (1964) $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">2</mrow>}$J. E. Griffiths and A. L. Beach, J. Chem Phys. 44, 2686 (1966).