Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Molecular structure of 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilane in the gas, liquid, and solid phases:
Sarah L Masters1, Heather E Robertson, Derek A Wann
1Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury , Private Bag 4100, Christchurch 8104, New Zealand.
Abstract:
The molecular structure of 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilane has been determined in three different phases (solid, liquid, and gas) using various spectroscopic and diffraction techniques. Both the solid-state and gas-phase investigations revealed only one conformer to be present in the sample analyzed, whereas the liquid phase revealed the presence of three conformers. The data have been reproduced using computational methods and a rationale is presented for the observation of three conformers in the liquid state.
Related Concept Videos
Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids
Lewis Structures of Molecular Compounds and Polyatomic Ions
Molecular Shape and Polarity
VSEPR Theory and the Basic Shapes
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I

