Unusual structural features of a siloxane

Crystals of the R, S diastereoisomer of [Cp(CO)₂-FeSiCH₃F]₂O are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c (No. 14), with a = 846.0(3) [836.4(1)], b = 768.0(3) [757.1(1)], c = 1548.5(4) [1522.3(2)] pro, β = 97.34(3)° [97.47(3)°] at 300 K [120 K] with Z = 2. Even at 120 K the SiOSi fragment is found to be strictly linear due to crystallographically imposed symmetry. To explain the unusual electron distribution derived from the X-ray data collected, several types of possible disorders are discussed, none of which leads to a satisfying explanation. Retaining the C_i symmetry (linear SiOSi fragment in the final model) the important bond lengths are FeSi 226.7(1) [226.5(1)] pm, SiF 160.9(2) [161.8(2)] pm, SiO 160.3(1) [161.1(1)] pm, SiC 185.0(3) [185.6(3)] pm. The electronic features of this compound were probed via molecular orbital calculations of the extended Hückel type. It was found that the lone pairs on the siloxane oxygen were tipped away from cylindrical symmetry. The tipping was directed toward the fluorine substituents on the silicon atoms and away from the CpFe(CO)₂ units. A pertubational approach was utilized to rationalize this effect.