Gas phase structures, energetics, and potential energy surfaces of disilacyclohexanes

The molecular structures of 1,4-, 1,3-, and 1,2-disilacyclohexanes (denoted as 14, 13, and 12, respectively) were investigated by means of gas electron diffraction (GED). Each molecule was found to possess a chair as the most stable conformation in the gas phase, the point group being C(2h), C(s), and C(2), respectively. Experimental GED structures are in good agreement with theoretical calculations (MP2/cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ). A qualitative ring strain analysis suggests 14 to be the most stable and 12 the least stable of the parent disilacyclohexanes. Relative energy calculations with the G4 model chemistry protocol, on the other hand, predict 13 to be the most stable isomer, 5.9 and 14.2 kcal/mol more stable than 14 and 12, respectively. The enhanced stability of 13 compared to 14 is in agreement with an analysis on endocyclic bond lengths and bond polarities. The heats of formation (G4 calculations) are predicted to be -12.3, -18.1, and -3.9 kcal/mol for 14, 13, and 12, respectively. The potential energy surface (PES) and the lowest energy path for the chair-to-chair inversion have been calculated for each isomer. In addition to the two chair forms in each case and some half-chair or sofa-like transition states (four in the case of 14, and two in the case of 13), there are two twist forms found as stationary points on the PES of 14, six twist and six boat forms on the PES of 13, and four twist and six boat forms on the PES of 12.