A photoelectron spectroscopic study of the electron donor-acceptor complexes of trimethylamine with boron trihalides BX3 (X=F, Cl, Br)

Abstract

HeI photoelectron spectra in the vapour phase and X-ray photoelectron spectra in the solid phase of the addition compounds of trimethylamine (TMA) with boron trihalides (BX3; X=F, Cl, Br) are reported, and interpreted with the aid of ab initio SCF MO calculations. The shift in the binding energy of the amine lone-pair orbital nN correlates well with the calculated net charge transferred and structural changes upon complexation. The results confirm that the donor-acceptor interaction is stronger in the complexes TMA·BCl3 and TMA·BBr3 than in the fluoro analogue. © 1992.