The crystal and molecular structure of bis(triphenylsilicon) carbodiimide

The structure of (Ph3SiN)2C has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R = 0.071 for 593 independent diffractometer data. The crystals are rhombohedral, R 3 with a = b = c 18.201(20) Å, α = β = γ = 48.82(2)°, and Z = 4. The three crystallographically independent molecules each have linear SiNCNSi chains lying along the crystallographic threefold axes; in two of the molecules the central carbon atom lies on a centre of symmetry. Principal mean bond lengths and angles are: Si, 1.696(25); SiC, 1.846(20); NC, 1.164(30); CC, 1.387(14) Å; CSi, 108.2(6); and CSiC, 110.8(6)°.