An electron diffraction determination of the molecular structure of silylcobalt tetracarbonyl in the gas phase

The molecular structure of H3SiCo(CO)4 has been determined in the vapour phase by electron diffraction. The principal bond lengths are CO = 1.137±0.003, CoC = 1.802±0.003 and CoSi = 2.381±0.007 Å, and the SiCoC angle is 81.7±0.7°. A comparison with the reported crystal structure for Cl3SiCo(CO)4 provides some evidence for a d→d π-bonding contribution in the latter molecule.