title: Oxygen superbases as polar binding pockets in nonpolar solvents.
abstract: A novel class of chiral superbases derived from the 2,2'-bipyridyl-N,N'-dioxide skeleton are presented. Combined experimental and theoretical data reveal that their proton affinities are on the order of 1050 kJ mol(-1), with protonation occurring at the oxygen atoms in a chelating manner. In the free bases, the oxygen atoms form a strongly polar binding site hidden in a hydrophobic envelope formed by the hydrocarbon backbone of the superbases. This chiral molecular structure can entrap polar intermediates or polarized transition structures and stabilize them in nonpolar solvents. Specifically, this mode of catalysis is shown for the coupling of benzaldehyde and allyltrichlorosilane.
authors: Department of Organic Chemistry, Charles University in Prague, Hlavova 8, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors: Lucie
authors: L
authors: Ducháccková
authors: Aneta
authors: A
authors: Kadlccíková
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Kotora
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Roithová
mesh_terms: D015082:2,2'-Dipyridyl / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D001665:Binding Sites; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: C554460:2,2'-bipyridyl-N,N'-dioxide; D012997:Solvents; D015082:2,2'-Dipyridyl; D010100:Oxygen