Cyclopropane bond angle deformation

The strain energies of cyclopropane (26.5 kcaFmol) and cyclobutane (26 kcal/ mol) are nearly the same despite the apparent much greater bond angle deformation with the former. One reason is that the weak C—C bonds in cyclopropane are compensated in part by the stronger C—H bonds. The increased strength results from the greater s character, and it is known that C—H bond strengths increase with... 

Many of the unique properties of cyclopropanes, and to a lesser extent, cyclobutanes, are derived from the formation of bent bonds. They may act in a fashion similar to 7r-bonds in interacting with electron-deficient centers, and are more easily cleaved thermally via electrophilic attack than are ordinary C-C bonds. The strain energy associated with bond angle deformation is also an important quantity, especially when considering thermal reactions. 

INDO calculation of hfs for planar and twisted (0 a ) [73Edg2] Radical obtained by photolysis of acety nd 90° 45 and 45°) conformations including bond angle deformation, peroxide in cyclopropane solutions of 1,3-butadiene. ... 

The three carbon atoms of the cyclopropane ring lie in a plane. Therefore the angle strain is expected to be considerable because each C-C-C valence angle must be deformed 49.5° from the tetrahedral value. It is likely that some relief from the strain associated with the eclipsing of the hydrogens of cyclopropane is achieved by distortion of the H-C-H and H-C-C bond angles ... 

---