Molecular structure of tris(methylsilyl)amine in the gas phase determined by electron diffraction

Abstract

The molecular structure of tris(methylsilyl)amine in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. The NSi₃ skeleton is planar, and one Si–C bond lies perpendicular to this plane, while the other two Si–C bonds are twisted up to 20° out of the plane, so that the molecule overall approximates to C₈ symmetry. Principal bond lengths (r_a) are: Si–N 172.9(3), Si–C 185.3(4), Si–H 149.2(10), and C–H 110.7(7) pm. The N–Si–C angle is 112.3(8)°.