The thermally unstable compounds SiCI,X.N(CH,), and SiC13X.N(CD3), where X = H , F, Br, or I are studied at -196 "C by infrared a.nd Raman spectroscopy. The data are compatible with molecular five coordinate compounds having a trigonal bipyramidal stereochemistry with the ligand trimethylamine always in the axial position. Using the vibrational data and normal coordinate analyses in both the C, and C3, configurations, X is suggested to be equatorial for H and F and axial for Br and I. The factors influencing the position of X in the compounds are discussed.Les composCs thermiquement instables SiCI,X.N(CH,), et SiCI,X.N(CD,), ou X=H, F, Br, oh I ont CtB etudies a -190 "C par spectroscopie infrarouge et Raman. Les rtsultats peuvent 6tre attribuks a des composCs moleculaires de coordination cinq (5) possedant une stereochimie bipyramidale trigonale avec le coordinat trimethylamine toujours en position axiale. En utilisant les donnees vibrationnelles et les analyses en coordonnees normales pour les configurations C, et C,,, on peut supposer que X est equatorial pour H et F, axial pour Br et I. Les facteurs influen~ant la position de X dans les composes sont discutes.[Traduit par le journal]Can. J. Chem., 51. 609 (1973) Introdt~ction Stereochemical information for the cornpounds SiC1,X.NMe3 where X = H, F, Br, or I have not previously been repo-ted although the existence of the hydride and fluoride has been known for some time (1,2). The compounds are found to be stable at -196 "C, yet completely dissociated into free halide and amine at room temperature. Dissociation pressure measurements have been reported for the series SiCl,H, _,.NMe, and SiGl,F,-,.NMe, where the results indicated the influence of steric and electronegativity effects on the stability order of the molecules (3, 4). With recent improvements in low temperature infrared and Raman techniques, there has been renewed interest in vibrational and structural studies of unstable co-ordination compounds.In an attempt to study thesz complexes, ~t was assumed that the basic shape at silicon was trigonal bipyramidai, with the trimethylamine ligand lying axially. Vibrational and single crystal Raman spectra and x-ray data ( 5 , 6) for the complexes MX,.NMe, (M = Si, Ce, or Sn and X = F or CI), h4X3.2NMe, (M = Al, Ga, or In and X = H, Cl, or Br) and MX3.NMe, (M = P or As and X = Cl or Br) have been reported and the evidence IS overwhelmingly in lTo whom correspondence should be addressed.favor of the amine lying axially. Assulning this, the question is then whether the X atom will reside in the equatorial or axial position for the series SiC1,X.NMe3. An argument has been put forward (7) that for trigonal bipyramidal molecules, the most electropositive atom will lie in the equatorial plane and hence one would expect to find C1, F, C1, and Cl in the axial positions for the series X = P-f, F, Br, and I. If the trimethylamine ligand were sterically bulky enough to crowd the atoms in the equatorial plane, then one might expect to find Cl, C1, Br, and I for the same...