Solid–State Structure of Tris(phenylsilyl)amine

The solid–state structure of tris(phenylsilyl)amine ( 1 ) has been determined by single–crystal X–ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the trigonal space group R 3 with three formula units in the unit cell. The molecules, which display crystallographic C 3 symmetry, contain almost completely planar NSi 3 units with a propeller–like arrangement of the phenyl rings attached to them. By contrast, the carbon analogue tribenzylamine is strongly pyramidal at nitrogen, which – in the absence of steric effects – clearly demonstrates the planarization effect of silicon as a substituent to nitrogen in tertiary amines.