STRUCTURE OF BORAZINE

The molecular structure of borazine (B3N3H6) was reinvestigated by electron diffraction. A planar D3h model and two nonplanar (C3v and C2) models were fitted to the diffraction data. For two sets of data the nonplanar models statistically fit the observed diffraction data better than did the planar model. Owing to the absence of a permanent dipole moment for borazine, the C2 model or a D3h model with very large vibrational motion is preferred; the choice between these is not unambiguous. The bonded distances are B-N = 1.4355 ± 0.0021 Å, B-H = 1.258 ± 0.014 Å, and N-H = 1.050 ± 0.012 Å. The ring angles are ∠NBN = 117.7 ± 1.2° and ∠BNB = 121.1 ± 1.2°. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.