B. Beagley, R. Pritchard, J. Titiloye
May 1, 1988
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Influential Citations
12
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Journal
Journal of Molecular Structure
Abstract
Abstract The molecular structure of the sterically overcrowded molecule tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-methane has been studied using gas-phase electron diffraction data collected on the Balzers KDG2 instrument at UMIST. Molecular mechanics calculations were employed to assist in the structure determination and establish the minimum energy conformation, thus distinguishing between two alternative electron diffraction minima. The principal structural parameters of the minimum energy T d conformation were observed to be: C*Si = 1.931(3) A, SiMe = 1.896(2) A, CH = 1.102(3) A, ∠ C*SiMe = 113.1(2)°, ∠ SiCH = 112.3(4)° and torsion angle τ = 180—SiC*SiC = 18.4(2)°. The methyl group torsion angle C*SiCH determined by electron diffraction is 73.5(17)°, close to the molecular mechanics value of 59°.