Sphere-likecompoundC8H17Si(OPhC12H25)3N(1)formsmesophases.Inordertoinvestigatetherelationshipbetweenmolecularstructureandliquidcrystalproperties,structuralstudiesarecarriedoutonthemodelmoleculesofcompound1anditssubstitutedderivativesusingahinitiocalculations.TheresultsshowthatthecyanoorchlorosubstitutedtribenzosilatranecompoundsR1Si(OPhR2)3N(R1R2=CNorCl)havemuchbiggerdipolemomentsoranisotropyofpolarizabilityandmorelikespherethanthecorrespondingalkylsubstitutedcompounds.Cyanoorchlorosubstitutedtribenzosilatraneswouldbebettercandidatesforsphere-likemeso-gens.