Crystal structures of two isomeric cyclotrisilanes

Abstract

The X-ray crystal structures of two isomeric cyclotrisilanes, cis–cis-and cis–trans-1,2,3-tri-t-butyl-1,2,3-trimesitylcyclotrisilanes (1a) and (1b), respectively, have been determined; the structure of (1b) reveals that one Si–Si bond is significantly longer than the other two in agreement with the recently reported chelotropy of photo-cleavage of (1b) to give E-and Z-1,2-di-t-butyl-1,2-dimesityldisilenes (2a) and (2b), respectively.