STRUCTURE OF TRISILYLPHOSPHINE, P(SIH3)3, AT 100-K

H9PSi3, M(r) = 124.30, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 6.0631 (16), b = 12.734 (3), c = 9.6784 (20) angstrom, beta = 93.872 (16)degrees, V = 742.2 angstrom 3, Z = 4, D(x) = 1.112 Mg m-3, lambdaBAR(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71073 angstrom, mu = 0.714 mm-1, F(000) = 264, T = 100 K, R = 0.0287 for 1778 unique observed reflections. Individual molecules have approximate, non-crystallographic C3v symmetry: they are linked by P...Si intermolecular contacts to give a corrugated sheet structure with P-Si...P angles close to linear and [3 + 2] coordination at phosphorus.