1,1,4,4-Tetra-tert-butyl-1,4-dichloro-2,2,3,3-tetra­phenyl­tetra­silane

The title compound, C(40)H(56)Cl(2)Si(4), was synthesized by the coupling of 1,1-di-tert-butyl-1,2-dichloro-2,2-diphenyl­disilane with lithium. The asymmetric unit contains one half-mol­ecule, which is completed by an inversion centre. In the mol­ecule, the tetra­silane skeleton adopts a perfect anti conformation and the Si—Si bonds [2.4355 (5) and 2.4328 (7) Å] are longer than the standard Si—Si bond length (2.34 Å). The Si—Si—Si angle [116.09 (2)°] is larger than the tetra­hedral bond angle (109.5°). These long bond lengths and the wide angle are favorable for reducing the steric hindrance among the tert-butyl and the phenyl groups. The dihedral angle between the phenyl rings in the asymmetric unit is 37.36 (8)°.