Organosilanes as synthetic precursors for oligosiloxanes and phenylsilica spheres

Abstract

The study describes the synthesis of disiloxanes, R₃SiOSiR₃, tetraorganodisiloxanes-1,3-diols, (RR¹SiOH)₂O, and silanol, t-Bu₂Si(H)OH, by AuNP-catalyzed hydrolytic oxidation of Si–H bond(s) in organosilanes. The method relies upon the en-route formation of an oil-in-water microemulsion that is dispersed in the continuous water phase and stabilized by amphiphilic AuNPs. The reaction of (MePhSiOH)₂O with (HMe₂Si)₂NH proceeds via O-silylation of silanol groups to afford an Si–H-terminated chain with the liberation of NH₃ as the byproduct. The application of this approach provides a viable synthetic solution to organosilica colloidal structures using primary organosilanes, RSiH₃ (R = Ph, n-hexyl) as substrates.