The Influence of HCl Concentration on the Rate of the Hydrolysis–Condensation Reaction of Phenyltrichlorosilane and the Yield of (Tetrahydroxy)(Tetraphenyl)Cyclotetrasiloxanes, Synthesis of All Its Geometrical Isomers and Thermal Self-Condensation of Them under “Pseudo”-Equilibrium Conditions

Abstract

The rate of hydrolysis–condensation reaction of phenyltrichlorosilane in water-acetone solutions and the product yields were shown to significantly depend on the concentration of HCl (CHCl) in the solutions. The main product of the reaction was all-cis-(tetrahydroxy)(tetraphenyl)cyclotetrasiloxane. This was different from the earlier published results of analogous reactions of m-tolylSiCl3, m-ClPhSiCl3, and a-naphtylSiCl, in which some products of other types were formed. For example, trans-1,1,3,3-tetrahydroxy-1,3-di-α-naphtyldisiloxane was obtained in the case of a-naphtylSiCl3. All-cis-(tetrahydroxy)(tetraphenyl)cyclotetrasiloxane was treated in acetone with HCl to give the other three geometric isomers (cis-cis-trans-, cis-trans-, and all-trans-). The thermal self-condensation of these four isomers under “pseudo”-equilibrium conditions (under atmospheric pressure) was investigated in different solvents, in quartz or molybdenum glass flasks. The compositions of the products were monitored by APCI-MS and 29Si NMR spectroscopy. It was shown that all-cis- and cis-cis-trans-isomers in toluene or anisole mostly gave the cage-like Ph-T8,10,12,14 and uncompleted cage-like Ph-T10,12OSi(HO)Ph compounds. In contrast to these two isomers, the cis-trans–isomer in toluene mainly formed dimers with the loss of one or two molecules of water. However, in acetonitrile, significant amounts of Ph-T10,12 and Ph-T10,12OSi(HO)Ph species were formed along with the dimers. All-trans-isomer did not enter into the reaction at all.

Well-defined cyclic silanol derivatives

“…They demonstrated that the acidity of the reaction medium can affect the reaction rate, yields of the products, and what kinds of products were formed. 73,74 It was discovered that altering the acid concentration can result in a variety of products, including isomerization compounds (stereoisomers of T 4 tetraols), T n cages (n = 8, 10, 12, and 14), partial cages, and dimer compounds.…”