Liquid structure of benzene and its derivatives as studied by means of X-ray scattering

Abstract

The liquid structures of benzene, toluene, aniline, benzaldehyde and nitrobenzene were investigated by the X-ray scattering method. The X-ray scattering data were analysed by a method without constructing any structure models. The obtained liquid structure of benzene is different from the previous X-ray scattering results which were derived from the quasi-lattice structure for the liquid based on the crystal structure of benzene. This is because a molecular arrangement which is not found in the crystal structure is left out of consideration. In liquid toluene, benzaldehyde and nitrobenzene, two molecules are associated with the dipole–dipole interaction in the antiparallel fashion. Two aniline molecules are hydrogen-bonded in liquid aniline. The third molecule weakly interacts with the other two in liquid toluene, aniline and benzaldehyde. In liquid nitrobenzene, the parallel dipole–dipole interaction of the third molecule with another one is present in the coplanar form. The substituent effect on the liquid structures is discussed.

Keywords:

• liquid structure
• benzene and its derivatives
• substituent effect
• X-ray scattering

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by ‘Open Research Cent’ Project for Private Universities: matching fund subsidy from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, 2007–2011.