Do halogen and methyl substituents have electronic effects on the structures of simple disilanes? An experimental and theoretical study of the molecular structures of the series X3SiSiMe3 (X = H, F, Cl and Br)

The gas-phase molecular structures of a series of halogen-substituted disilanes [X3SiSiMe3 (X = H, F, Cl and Br)], 1,1,1-trimethyldisilane (H3SiSiMe3), 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (F3SiSiMe3), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (Cl3SiSiMe3) and 1,1,1-tribromo-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (Br3SiSiMe3), have been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction. Ab initio calculations at the HF and MP2 level were used to support the experimental investigation using the SARACEN method. All of the investigated structures were determined to adopt a staggered structure with C 3v symmetry. The effect of substitution on the Si–Si bond and the Si–Si–X bond angle was investigated and these results were compared to results obtained from a recent study of halogen-substituted disilanes [X3SiSiXMe2 (X = F, Cl, Br and I)] to consider the effect of the methyl groups on the substituted disilanes.