Selective Enzymatic Oxidation of Silanes to Silanols.

Compared to the biological world's rich chemistry for functionalizing carbon, enzymatic transformations of the heavier homologue silicon are rare. We report that a wild-type cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450BM3 from Bacillus megaterium, CYP102A1) has promiscuous activity for oxidation of hydrosilanes to give silanols. Directed evolution was applied to enhance this non-native activity and create a highly efficient catalyst for selective silane oxidation under mild conditions with oxygen as the terminal oxidant. The evolved enzyme leaves C-H bonds present in the silane substrates untouched, and this biotransformation does not lead to disiloxane formation, a common problem in silanol syntheses. Computational studies reveal that catalysis proceeds through hydrogen atom abstraction followed by radical rebound, as observed in the native C-H hydroxylation mechanism of the P450 enzyme. This enzymatic silane oxidation extends nature's impressive catalytic repertoire.

Directed evolution of enzymatic silicon-carbon bond cleavage in siloxanes.

Volatile methylsiloxanes (VMS) are man-made, nonbiodegradable chemicals produced at a megaton-per-year scale, which leads to concern over their potential for environmental persistence, long-range transport, and bioaccumulation. We used directed evolution to engineer a variant of bacterial cytochrome P450BM3 to break silicon-carbon bonds in linear and cyclic VMS. To accomplish silicon-carbon bond cleavage, the enzyme catalyzes two tandem oxidations of a siloxane methyl group, which is followed by putative [1,2]-Brook rearrangement and hydrolysis. Discovery of this so-called siloxane oxidase opens possibilities for the eventual biodegradation of VMS.

Tris-cis-tris-trans-dodeca[organo(dimethylorganosiloxy)]cyclododecasiloxanes {RSi(O)[OSiMe2R']}12. Self-ordering features.

The molecular order and thermotropic transitions of tris-cis-tris-trans-dodeca- [organo(dimethylorganosiloxy)]cyclododecasiloxanes {RSi(O)[OSiMe(2)R']}(12) (R = Ph, R' = Me, CH(2)Cl, Vi; R = Me, Et, Vi, R' = Me) have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray scattering. The cyclododecasiloxanes with phenyl side groups (R = Ph) can form mesomorphic structures within a very wide temperature range. Compounds with R = Me and Vi are liquids and exhibit microphase separation above their glass transition temperature because of the different nature and structure of the organic R and trimethylsiloxy OSiMe(3) side groups. When the side group R = Et, a mesomorphic structure is formed in a substantially more narrow temperature region than that for cycles containing phenyl groups. Thus, the type of side group R in organocyclododecasiloxanes determines their ability for self-ordering into mesomorphic structures and the thermal stability of the mesomorphic state.

Biocatalytic Transformations of Silicon-the Other Group 14 Element.

Significant inroads have been made using biocatalysts to perform new-to-nature reactions with high selectivity and efficiency. Meanwhile, advances in organosilicon chemistry have led to rich sets of reactions holding great synthetic value. Merging biocatalysis and silicon chemistry could yield new methods for the preparation of valuable organosilicon molecules as well as the degradation and valorization of undesired ones. Despite silicon's importance in the biosphere for its role in plant and diatom construction, it is not known to be incorporated into any primary or secondary metabolites. Enzymes have been found that act on silicon-containing molecules, but only a few are known to act directly on silicon centers. Protein engineering and evolution has and could continue to enable enzymes to catalyze useful organosilicon transformations, complementing and expanding upon current synthetic methods. The role of silicon in biology and the enzymes that act on silicon-containing molecules are reviewed to set the stage for a discussion of where biocatalysis and organosilicon chemistry may intersect.

Synthesis and properties of stereoregular cyclic polysilanols: cis-[PhSi(O)OH](4), cis-[PhSi(O)OH](6), and tris-cis-tris-trans-[PhSi(O)OH](12).

New stereoregular cyclic polysilanols of the general formula [PhSi(O)OH]n (n = 6 and 12) have been selectively obtained in high yields by the reaction of cagelike oligophenylmetallasiloxanes with dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid at low temperatures. An alternative method was used to prepare cis-[PhSi(O)OH](4) from sodium phenylsiloxanolate, cis-[(Na(+))(4)[PhSi(O)O(-)](4)].(1-butanol)(x). All compounds were fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and molecular weight determinations. The structure of cis-[PhSi(O)OH](6) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Furthermore, a series of stereoregular cyclosiloxanes containing triorganylsiloxy groups at each silicon atom was prepared by the reactions of the cyclic polysilanols with triorganylchlorosilanes Me(3)SiCl, Me(2)ViSiCl, and Me(2)(CH(2)Cl)SiCl.