“…The Si(1)-O(1A) and Si(1)-O(1B) bonds differ by 0.04 Å which can be explained by the influence of crystal packing. Similar to 1a,b, in 3a the molecules of HMPA and Si(C 6 F 5 ) 3 moiety are arranged in eclipsed conformation (the pseudotorsional angles N(1A)P(1A)Si(1)C (11) and N(2B)P(2B)Si(1)C(11) are equal to 0.73°and À57°, respectively), and the Si-O-P angles are close to linear (169.1°a nd 177.3°). In the crystal of 3a the triflate anion does not have any influence on the geometry of the cation, since the shortest SiÁ Á ÁOTf distance of 6.22 Å is far beyond the sum of the Van der Waals radii (3.5 Å ).…”