Trifluoromethylsilane,CF3SiH3

CF₃SiH₃ (I) has been obtained in ～90 % yield from the reaction of CF₃SiF₃ or CF₃SiF₂I with LiAlH₄ in dibutyl ether at ?78°. (I) has been characterized by its ¹H, ¹⁹F, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR-, mass-, IR- and Raman spectra. It is thermally stable up to 180° and not attacked by O₂, H₂O and H₃PO₄, but cleaved by aqueous alkali. From a rovibrational analysis, B_o = 0.09769(2) cm^?1 is deduced, and a long SiC bond, 1.95(1)Å, is predicted.