An electron diffraction determination of the molecular structures of trichloro- and trifluoro-silyl-dimethylamine

The molecular structures of Cl3SiNMe2 and F3SiNMe2 have been determined in the vapour phase by the sector microphotometer method of electron diffraction. Both molecules are found to possess planar heavy-atom skeletons, after a small correction for shrinkage. The principal bond lengths are: Si-Cl = 2.023 ± 0.005, Si-F = 1.567 ± 0.006, Si-N = 1.657 ± 0.012 and 1.654 ± 0.015 Å, respectively, C-N = 1.446 ± 0.012 and 1.433 ± 0.015 Å respectively.