Triisopropylamine: A Sterically Overcrowded Molecule with a Flattened NC₃ Pyramid and a “p‐Type” Nitrogen Electron Pair

Abstract

An extremely low first ionization energy , a reversible oxidizability, and an electron pair localized on the nitrogen atom in the radical cation characterizes triisopropylamine. The structure inferred from these properties, which is also supported by quantum mechanical calculations, is a flattened NX 3 pyramid. Electron diffraction studies in the gas phase confirm the structure: the CNC angle is 119.2°!