Synthesis of Structurally Varied 1,3-Disiloxanediols and Their Activity as Anion-Binding Catalysts

A series of new 1,3-disiloxanediols has been synthesized, including naphthyl-substituted and unsymmetrical siloxanes, and demonstrated as a new class of anion-binding catalysts. In the absence of anions, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) displays self-association of 1,3-disiloxanediols through hydrogen-bonding interactions. Binding constants determined for 1,3-disiloxanediol catalysts indicate strong hydrogen-bonding and anion-binding abilities with unsymmetrical siloxanes displaying different hydrogen-bonding abilities for each silanol group.