Structure of Vinyl Radical

One could imagine two possible structures for vinyl radical. The C=C-H skeleton could be linear and, in this case, the unpaired electron would have to occupy the p-AO that lies in the plane of the molecule. The alternative would be a planar structure in wich both C-atoms are about sp2-hybridized. In that case, the unpaired electron occupies an sp2-orbital. The calculation suggests that the latter option is realized.


Figure. The UMP2(full)/6-31G* optimized structure of vinyl radical.