Cooperative Hydrogen-Bonding Effects in Silanediol Catalysis

The importance of cooperative hydrogen-bonding effects and SIOH-acidification Is described for silanediol catalysis. NMR binding, X-ray, and computational studies provide support for a unique dimer resulting from silanediol self-recognition. The significance of this cooperative hydrogen-bonding Is demonstrated using novel fluorinated silanediol catalysts for the addition of indoles and N,N-dimethyl-m-anisidine to trans-beta-nitrostyrene.