Synthesis and structural study of precursors of novel methylsilanediols by IR and Raman spectroscopies, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and DFT calculations

On the way towards the development of a synthetic route aimed at obtaining new methylsilanediol derivatives with an aminocarbonyl group in β to silicon (which may have a potential biological interest), we have synthesized, isolated and purified five diphenylic possible precursors, namely chloromethyl(methyl)diphenylsilane, 2-{[methyl(diphenyl)silyl]methyl}-1H- isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione, N-[(methyl(diphenyl) silanyl)-methyl]-benzamide, N-[(methyl(diphenyl)silyl)-methyl]-acetamide and N-[(methyl(diphenyl)silyl)- methyl]-formamide. The conformational landscape of the five species in this study are explored by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G â̂ - â̂ - level. The theoretical molecular structures predicted are confirmed by the reproduction of their respective IR and Raman spectral profiles, that are completely assigned. Some evidence in the vibrational spectra points to the occurrence of conformational mixtures in the samples. Further, single-crystal X-ray diffraction has allowed the elucidation of the crystalline structure of 2-{[methyl(diphenyl)silyl]methyl}-1H-isoindole- 1,3(2H)-dione.