Spectroscopic studies of the conformations of n-decamethyltetrasilane

Chariya A. Ernst*, A. Louis Allred, Mark A. Ratner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The conformational properties of n-decamethyltetrasilane, n-Si4(CH3)10, have been studied by variable temperature NMR (1H and 13C) and vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy. As in related alkane systems, the anti conformer is more stable than the gauche conformer. Values of △H0 and △S0 for the anti → gauche reaction are 2.26 ± 0.15 kJ mol-1 and △S0 = 7.82± 0.86 J K-1mol-1, respectively. Thus, the two conformers are present in comparable quantities at room temperature. At very low temperatures, broadening of the two proton resonances (SiMe2, SiMe3) occurs, but phase changes precluded the observation of decoalescence. By approximate lineshape anaylysis, the free energy of activation, △G‡, for rotation about the central SiSi bond is estimated to be ∼25 kJ mol-1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-131
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Organometallic Chemistry
Volume178
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 25 1979

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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