Dipole moments, Kerr constants, and structure of oxides of substituted norbornenes

Abstract

The molar Kerr constants and dipole moments at infinite dilution in CCl4 have been measured for these compounds and also for dicyclopentadiene dioxide and the oxides of ethylene, propylene, and tetramethylethylene. The dipole moment indicates an exo-oxide structure for endo-cyanonorbornene, and this fact is used with the Kerr constants for endo-cyanonorbornene and ethylene oxide to calculate the axes of the polarizability ellipsoid for the oxide ring: b1 (along the symmetry axis), b2 (in plane of ring), and b3 (perpendicular to plane of ring). The Kerr constants for propylene and tetramethylethylene oxides have been used to determine the anisotropy in the polarizability of the C-C bond adjoining the oxide ring. The results demonstrate an exo mode of oxidation of all substituted norbornenes and an exo-exo structure for dicyclopentadiene dioxide.