Synthesis,conformational preferences in gas and solution,and molecular gear rotation in 1-(dimethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane by gas phase electron diffraction (GED), LT NMR and theoretical calculations

1-(Dimethylamino)-1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane 1, was synthesized, and its molecular structure and conformational properties studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), low temperature ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. The predominance of the 1-Ph_ax conformer (1-Ph_eq:1-Ph_ax ratio of 20:80%, ΔG°(317?K)?=??0.87?kcal/mol) in the gas phase is close to the theoretically estimated conformational equilibrium. In solution, low temperature NMR spectroscopy showed analyzable decoalescence of C_ipso and C(1,5) carbon signals in ¹³C NMR spectra at 103?K. Opposite to the gas state in the freon solution employed (CD₂Cl₂/CHFCl₂/CHFCl₂?=?1:1:3), which is still liquid at 100?K, the 1-Ph_eq conformer was found to be the preferred one (1-Ph_eq: 1-Ph_ax?=?77%: 23%, K?=?77/23?=?2.8; ?ΔG°?=??RT ln K (at 103?K)?=?0.44?±?0.1?kcal/mol]. When comparing 1 with 1-phenyl-1-(X)silacylohexanes (X?=?H, Me, OMe, F, Cl), studied so far, the trend of predominance of the Ph_ax conformer in the gas phase and of the Ph_eq conformer in solution is confirmed.