THERMAL REARRANGEMENTS OF ALPHA-(ACYLOXY)SILANES .2. FORMATION OF CHIRAL PRECURSORS AND MIGRATORY PREFERENCE OF SILICON-BASED GROUPS

The asymmetric reduction of acylsilanes to chiral alpha-hydroxysilanes and the thermal rearrangement of the corresponding chiral alpha-acetoxysilanes was explored. IpcBCl reduces many acylsilanes in > 95% ee. The rate of the thermal rearrangement of the alpha-acetoxysilanes was dependent upon the substituents at both silicon and carbon. Evidence is presented to indicate there is electron deficiency at the alpha-carbon in the transition state. Migratory aptitudes follow those expected on the basis of the migrating group assuming an apical migratory group at a pentacoordinate silicon. A previously unreported hydrolytic transformation of a proposed acylsilyl hydride to a stable 1-sila-1,2-diol was observed.