Low-Temperature Triphenylmethane

The crystal structure of triphenylmethane, C₁₉H₁₆, has been redetermined at 150 K. It confirms the previously reported room-temperature study [Riche & Pascard-Billy (1974). Acta Cryst. B30, 1874-1876], while correcting for the erroneously reported space group from P2₁2₁2₁ to Pna2₁. The structure contains two crystallographically independent triphenylmethane molecules, both with a propeller configuration. The deformations from ideal phenyl-ring geometry conform with those expected for rings having electron-releasing substituents.

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