Solid–State Structure of Tris(phenylsilyl)amine

Abstract

AbstractThe solid–state structure of tris(phenylsilyl)amine (1) has been determined by single–crystal X–ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the trigonal space group R3 with three formula units in the unit cell. The molecules, which display crystallographic C3 symmetry, contain almost completely planar NSi3 units with a propeller–like arrangement of the phenyl rings attached to them. By contrast, the carbon analogue tribenzylamine is strongly pyramidal at nitrogen, which – in the absence of steric effects – clearly demonstrates the planarization effect of silicon as a substituent to nitrogen in tertiary amines.