The crystal and molecular structure of dimethylphosphinic acid

Abstract

The crystal structure of dimethylphosphinic acid, (CH3)2PO(OH), has been detd. from 3-dimensional x-ray data. Crystals of this compd. are monoclinic, space group C2/c, with Z = 8. Cell dimensions are a 15.78, b 6.76, c 10.94 A., and β 125°40'. The structure was refined by least sqs. The final R index for 852 observed reflections is 0.078. The phosphorus atom has the expected tetrahedral configuration. The P-C bond lengths are equal within exptl. error, with a mean value of 1.78 A. The 2 P-O bond lengths are 1.50 and 1.56 A. Strong O-H...OH bonds, 2.48 A. in length and arranged around 2-fold screw axes, hold the mols. together to form chains along the b axis. [on SciFinder(R)]