Molecular liquid TiCl4 and VCl4: Two substances, one structure?

Neutron diffraction data obtained for liquid TiCl4 and VCl4 have been modelled by the Reverse Monte Carlo method. Structural models were produced which are consistent with experimental data within their uncertainties. Partial radial distribution functions and distance-dependent correlations between molecular orientations have been calculated directly from the resulting sets of particle coordinates. Comparison with reference systems, which were generated by hard sphere Monte Carlo simulations, was also carried out for estimating the information content of measured data. Some similarities were found between these simple (hard sphere like) reference systems and the corresponding real liquids; the two real liquids, on the other hand, show nearly indistinguishable structural features. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.