The crystal and molecular structure of 1,4-diphenyl-2,2′,3,3′,5,5′,6,6′-octamethylcyclo-1,4-diphospha-2,3,5,6-tetrasilahexane, a phosphorus–silicon heterocycle

The crystal structure of 1,4-diphenyl-2,2′,3,3′,5,5′,6,6′-octamethylcyclo-1,4-diphospha-2,3,5,6-tetrasilahexane, (PhPSi2Me4)2, has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P21/c, with a = 9.866(1), b = 11.921(1), and c = 11.324(2) Å, β = 104.31(1)°, Z = 2, and ρcalcd = 1.15 g/cm3. The structure was solved by direct methods and was refined by full-matrix least-squares procedures to a final R of 0.060 and Rw of 0.078, for 1173 reflections with intensities greater than 3σ. The (PhPSi2Me4)2 molecule lies on a crystallographic centre of symmetry, and the six-membered P2Si4 ring has a chair conformation with equatorial phenyl groups. The endocyclic angles at P (104.4(1)°) and Si (104.9(2)°) are intermediate between those found in cyclic hexaphosphine and hexasilane molecules, and the Si—Si and P—Si distances of 2.345(3) and 2.252(4) Å, respectively, correspond to single bond lengths, with no appreciable evidence for secondary pπ → dπ bonding between phosphorus and silicon. The Si—C (1.867(8) Å) and P—C (1.828(7) Å) bond lengths are also normal. The variations in the Si—P—C (101.6(2)°, 108.6(2)°), P—Si—C (range 106.2(3)–120.0(3)°), and Si—Si—C (range 105.8(3)–113.7(3)°) angles indicate that the positions of the exocyclic methyl and phenyl groups are influenced by both intra- and intermolecular steric forces.