Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of 3-Methyl-3-silatetrahydropyran by GED, FTIR, NMR, and Theoretical Calculations: Comparative Analysis of 1-Hetero-3-methyl-3-silacyclohexanes.

3-Methyl-3-silatetrahydropyran 1 was synthesized and its molecular structure and conformational behavior was studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), FTIR, low temperature (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and by theoretical calculations (DFT, MP2). Two conformers, 1-ax and 1-eq, were located on the potential energy surface. In the gas phase, a slight predominance of the axial conformer was determined, with the ratio 1-ax:1-eq = 54(9):46(9) (from GED) or 53:47 or 61:39 (from IR). In solution, LT NMR spectroscopy at 103 K gives the ratio 1-ax:1-eq = 35:65 (-ΔG°103 = 0.13 kcal/mol). Simulation of solvent effects using the PCM continuum model or by calculation of the corresponding solvent-solute complexes allowed us to rationalize the experimentally observed opposite conformational predominance of the conformers of 3-methyl-3-silatetrahydropyran in the gas phase and in solution. Comparative analysis of the effect of heteroatom in 1-hetero-3-methyl-3-silacyclohexanes on the structure, stereoelectronic interactions, and relative energies of the conformers is done.