An Electron Diffraction Investigation of Cyclooctatetraene and Benzene

The interatomic distances and their vibrational amplitudes have been determined for C8H8 and C6H6 by quantitative analysis of electron diffraction sector photographs. The D2d tub configuration, with the oblique C–C bonds longer than the horizontal ones, has been confirmed for C8H8. The interatomic distances involving hydrogen atoms have been evaluated.