Access to Unsaturated Organogermanes via (De)Hydrosilylation Mediated by Cobalt Complexes.

The functionalization of alkynylgermanes using hydrosilanes was accomplished by employing cobalt catalysis. Depending on the reactants used, the reaction can proceed via dehydrogenative coupling or hydrosilylation. Importantly, the presented method is characterized by mild reaction conditions, allowing rapid access to a wide range of organogermanes.

Access to germasiloxanes and alkynylgermanes mediated by earth-abundant species.

The reactions between silanols or terminal acetylenes with alkynylgermanes have been accomplished using potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide as the catalyst. This strategy has provided an entry point into various organogermanes including germasiloxanes and alkynylgermanes. Remarkably, not only KHMDS but also simple bases such as KOH can serve as efficient catalysts in this process.

Silicon-nitrogen bond formation via dealkynative coupling of amines with bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene mediated by KHMDS.

The catalytic synthesis of silylamines mediated by s- and p-block catalysts is largely underdeveloped. Herein, commercially available potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide serves as an efficient alternative to transition metal complexes. N-H/Si-C dealkynative coupling was achieved by means of user-friendly main-group catalysis with ample substrate scope and high chemoselectivity.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C-H Silylation of Alkynylsilanes.

Herein, we report that a cobalt catalyst permits the general synthesis of substituted alkynylsilanes through dehydrogenative coupling of alkynylsilanes and hydrosilanes. Several silylated alkynes, including di- and trisubstituted ones, were prepared in a one-step procedure. Thirty-seven compounds were synthesized for the first time by applying our catalyst system. The alkynylsilanes bearing hydrosilyl moieties provide an opportunity for further functionalization (e. g., hydrosilylation). The use of primary silanes as substrates and precatalyst activators permits the use of inexpensive and easily accessible 3d metal precatalysts, and avoids the presence of additional activators.

Catalytic and non-catalytic hydroboration of carbonyls: quantum-chemical studies.

The addition of hydroboranes across several unsaturated moieties is a universal synthetic tool for the reduction or functionalization of unsaturated moieties. Given the sustainable nature of this process, the development of more environmentally-benign approaches (main-group catalysis or uncatalysed approaches) for hydroboration has gained considerable recent momentum. The present paper examines both catalyst-free and KF-mediated hydroboration of carbonyl compounds with the use of quantum-chemical methods. The results of computations for several potential reaction pathways are juxtaposed with experiment-based calculations, which leads to stepwise mechanisms and energy profiles for the reactions of pinacolborane with benzaldehyde and acetophenone (in the presence of KF). For each step of these reactions, we provide an accurate description of the geometric and electronic structures of corresponding stationary points. Five different levels of theory are employed to select the most applicable theoretical approach and develop a computational protocol for further research. Upon selection of the best-performing methods, larger molecular systems are studied to explore possible more complex pathways at the M06-2X/6-311++G(2d,p) and ωB97XD/6-311++G(2d,p) levels of theory, which brings up multi-pathway, overlapping catalytic cycles. The mechanism of solvent-free, catalyst-free hydroboration of aldehydes is also revisited through the prism of the elaborated methodology, which leads to a whole new perspective on the pathways of this and similar reactions, with a multimolecular cascade of hydride transfers being more energetically favoured than a four-membered transition state.

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Dehydrocoupling of POSS Silanols with Hydrosilanes: A Metal-Free Strategy for Effecting Functionalization of Silsesquioxanes.

We report a highly effective metal-free catalytic procedure for the functionalization of silsesquioxanes via dehydrocoupling of various POSS silanols with hydrosilanes in the presence of commercially available tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane B(C6F5)3. This approach enables the unprecedented one-pot synthesis of valuable silsesquioxane derivatives under mild conditions, with no corrosive byproducts formed in the process.

Copper(ii) triflate-mediated synthesis of functionalized silsesquioxanes via dehydrogenative coupling of POSS silanols with hydrosilanes.

In light of the fact that the design of new catalytic routes leading to functionalized silsesquioxanes is currently of high relevance; herein we report a novel, highly effective and convenient catalytic approach for the modification of silsesquioxanes. We present a dehydrogenative coupling reaction of completely as well as incompletely condensed POSS silanols with a wide range of commercially available hydrosilanes mediated by inexpensive copper(ii) trifluoromethanesulfonate. This research also includes mechanistic studies for this process.

Ru-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Silylation of POSS-Silanols with Hydrosilanes: Its Introduction to One-Pot Synthesis.

A commercially available and stable ruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst (Ru3(CO)12) allows very efficient and convenient access to functionalized silsesquioxanes (SQs) containing siloxane moiety (Si-O-Si) via dehydrogenative coupling of POSS-silanols with hydrosilanes. With the aid of SiH-containing silsesquioxanes, an unprecedented one-pot procedure has been revealed, and the usefulness of this approach was demonstrated by the synthesis of various derivatives via O-silylation, as well as C═C and C═N hydrosilylation.

A Highly Effective Route to Si-O-Si Moieties through O-Silylation of Silanols and Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Silanols with Disilazanes.

A simple and highly practical catalyst-free O-silylation of silanols with commercially available disilazanes has been developed under mild conditions. In the case of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) silanols and some other silanols, it was necessary to use catalytic amounts of inexpensive Bi(OTf)3 as additional catalyst. This efficient chlorine-free protocol involves the synthesis of a wide range of important organosilicon derivatives such as unsymmetrical disiloxanes and functionalized silsesquioxanes.

Pseudo-enantiomeric chiral components and formation of the helical micro- and nanostructures in charge-transfer complexes.

Helical organic micro- and nanostructures are formed by a charge-transfer complex, cinchonidine-TCNQ. These unusual forms result from the chirality, the steric structure and specific interactions of cinchonidine molecules. These materials are semiconductors (10-4 S cm-1), with the typical absorption spectra in IR and UV-vis, but also have a characteristic of CD spectrum. Surprisingly, conductive micro and nano helices are not formed in pseudo-enantiomeric cinchonine, i.e. the complex of cinchonine and TCNQ.

Introduction of Boron Functionalities into Silsesquioxanes: Novel Independent Methodologies.

Owing to their versatile application possibilities, silsesquioxanes (SQs) are of considerable interest for creating hybrid inorganic-organic materials. In this report, two novel and independent strategies for the direct attachment of boron functionalities to silsesquioxanes are presented. Encouraged by our previous work concerning the synthesis of borasiloxanes through the catalyst-free dehydrogenative coupling of silanols and boranes, we decided to apply our method to a synthesis of various boron-functionalized silsesquioxanes. During our tests, we also investigated the activity of scandium(III) triflate, which we have previously used as an excellent catalyst for the obtaining of Si-O-Si and Si-O-Ge moieties. As a result, we also discovered a novel approach for the O-borylation of Si-OH groups in silsesquioxanes with allylborane. Both routes are highly chemoselective and efficiently lead to the obtaining of Si-O-B moiety under air atmosphere and at room temperature.

Silica Surface Modification and Its Application in Permanent Link with Nucleic Acids.

In this paper, the Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of hydroxyl ethers is described. Various bifunctional alkoxysilanes were obtained and applied in O-silylation of free hydroxyl groups on the silica surface. These modified solid materials have been used as excellent supports for linking synthetic nucleic acids. Nucleic acids permanently attached to the solid surface were tested in hybridization with complementary fluorescence-labeled sequences. Detection of nucleic acids anchored to the solid support was performed by fluorescence microscopy after hybridization.

Highly Efficient Catalytic Route for the Synthesis of Functionalized Silsesquioxanes.

Silsesquioxanes (POSS) have recently become the subject of growing interest in many branches of materials chemistry. Despite this great interest, no direct metal-catalyzed method to cap the corner of the POSS molecules has yet been proposed. In this report, we present a highly efficient method for the synthesis of functionalized silsesquioxanes mediated by scandium(III) triflate, which opens up the possibility of introducing a wide variety of functional groups into this class of organosilicon compounds under mild conditions with excellent yields. We also investigated the differences in the activity of the Lewis acid (Sc(OTf)3) and the hidden Brønsted acid (TfOH) generated in situ from triflates as catalysts in the functionalization of silsesquioxanes. What is more, this solution provides an efficient corner-capping reaction and other functionalizations to obtain silsesquioxane derivatives which are often not possible to synthesize with good yields, efficiency, and chemoselectivity using conventional methods.

Pt-Catalyzed Synthesis of Functionalized Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Disilazanes.

In nearly every total synthesis, silylating agents are employed in synthetic steps to protect sensitive functional groups. A Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of various unsaturated substrates to prepare novel symmetrical and unsymmetrical disilazanes is described. The developed synthetic methodology is widely applicable and tolerates all manner of functional groups (e.g., amines, ethers, esters, halogens, silanes, etc.). To demonstrate the value of the described method, mono-substituted 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazanes were further selectively converted to completely new unsymmetrical derivatives.

Ruthenium-catalyzed silylation of 1,3-butadienes with vinylsilanes.

A novel method for the synthesis of 1-silyl-substituted 1,3-butadienes, based on [RuHCl(CO)(PCy3)2]-catalyzed silylative coupling of terminal (E)-1,3-dienes with vinylsilanes, is reported. The reaction provides a facile and straightforward access to (E,E)-dienylsilanes in a highly stereoselective fashion (especially for aryl-substituted dienes) and opens a valuable and general synthetic route for the direct catalytic silylation of conjugated dienes with elimination of ethylene as a single byproduct. Preliminary results on synthetic application of the synthesized silylated 1,3-butadienes in desilylation reactions are described.

Highly selective hydrothiolation of unsaturated organosilicon compounds catalyzed by scandium(III) triflate.

The first use of a Lewis acid catalyst in the addition reaction of both aromatic and aliphatic thiols to unsaturated organosilicon compounds is reported. In catalytic tests, scandium(III) triflate demonstrates high catalytic activity in this process. Under mild conditions (25 °C, room temperature, 1-10 h) a number of thioether-functionalized organosilicon species are obtained with appreciable selectivity. This study constitutes the first example of allylsilane hydrothiolation that gives the Markovnikov regioisomer as the main product. Ethynylsilanes are also successfully used in the hydrothiolation reaction in the presence of Sc(OTf)3 .

Silane-modified surfaces in specific antibody-mediated cell recognition.

The immobilization of antibodies on various surfaces has been the subject of advanced research in various immunoassay-based diagnostic devices. The physical and chemical stabilities of the immobilized antibodies on a solid surface still cause many problems because upon immobilizing antibody molecules, the antigen-binding ability usually decreases. The silanization of surfaces with organosilanes carrying chemically active groups such as (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) can accommodate these antigen-binding molecules in an appropriate orientation so that their functionality and binding activity are essentially retained. In this study, n-butyltrimethoxysilane (BMS) and 3-(octafluoropentyloxy)-propyltriethoxysilane (OFPOS) were used as "blocking silanes". The aims of this study were to compare the effectiveness of specific antibody binding of APTES, APTES + BMS and APTES + OFPOS and to characterize the modified surfaces by contact angle measurements and immunofluorescence measurements prior to and after immobilizing proteins. Additionally, we have evaluated the functionality of the immobilized antibodies by their abilities to bind EpCAM-positive human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LoVo) and EpCAM-negative mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (3T3). Cell enumeration was conducted on the basis of DAPI-positive signals and recorded using a confocal laser scanning biological microscope. The results of our study showed that the immobilization capability and reactivity of APTES, APTES + BMS and APTES + OFPOS differ. The modification of APTES with unreactive silanes (BMS,OFPOS) is recommended to improve the antibody binding efficiency. However, using OFPOS resulted in more effective antibody and cell binding, and it appears to be the most useful compound in specific antibody-mediated cell recognition.

One-pot synthesis of (E)-styryl ketones from styrenes.

A new, efficient protocol for the highly stereoselective one-pot synthesis of (E)-styryl ketones from styrenes based on sequential ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling-rhodium-catalyzed desilylative acylation reactions is reported.

(E)-9-(2-iodovinyl)-9H-carbazole: a new coupling reagent for the synthesis of π-conjugated carbazoles.

The one-pot synthesis of (E)-9-(2-iodovinyl)-9H-carbazole via sequential ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling of N-vinylcarbazole with vinyltrimethylsilane and iododesilylation is reported. Its use as a new building block in the palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions to yield new carbazole-containing (E)-but-1-en-3-ynes and (E,E)-buta-1,3-dienes is demonstrated.

New one-pot synthesis of (E)-beta-aryl vinyl halides from styrenes.

A new, efficient protocol for the highly stereoselective one-pot synthesis of (E)-beta-aryl vinyl iodides and (E)-beta-aryl vinyl bromides from styrenes based on sequential ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling-N-halosuccinimide-mediated halodesilylation reactions is reported.