Diformatosilane: preparation, characterisation, and molecular structure in the gas phase by electron diffraction

Abstract

The first bis-ester derivative of silane, SiH₂(OCHO)₂, has been prepared and characterised by a variety of spectroscopic techniques and by electron diffraction in the gas phase. The electron-diffraction investigation shows it to have an asymmetric conformation, one formate group apparently being close to the cis arrangement about its SiO bond, the other close to trans. The two formate groups are, however, equivalent on the n.m.r. time-scale.