Silanetriols in the gas phase: single molecules vs. hydrogen-bonded dimers.

The first gas phase structure of a silanetriol, tert-butylsilane-triol [(t)BuSi(OH)(3)], determined by gas electron diffraction (GED), is reported. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to elucidate potential intermolecular interactions between silanetriol molecules in the gas phase. The results are set into contrast to solid state structures of (t)BuSi(OH)(3) and related compounds.