Silanetriols are compounds of the general formula Si(OH)3R which readily form polysiloxanes by condensation, by substituting R for condensation resistant ligands a range of crystal structures have been identified for different solid state silanetriol compounds. Norbert W. Mitzel and colleagues have been investigating the intermolecular forces of gaseous silanetriols, the first investigation of its kind, with the aim of discovering if tert-butylsilanetriol [tBuSi(OH)3] dimerises via H-bonds or remains monomeric when in the gas state.
Intrigued? To find out more about the teams findings, including the taste of their silanetriol, read the full HOT article which is free to access until the 20th of December
Silanetriols in the gas phase: single molecules vs. hydrogen-bonded dimers
Stefan Spirk, Raphael J. F. Berger, Christian G. Reuter, Rudolf Pietschnig and Norbert W. Mitzel
Dalton Trans., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1DT11740H, Communication
