The Stereochemistry of Organosilicon Compounds

Optically active organosilicon compounds having reactive functional groups bonded to asymmetric silicon have recently been synthesized and their study has revealed that many organosilicon reactions are stereospecific. The present paper deals with the problem of correlation of configuration for six key compounds containing the α‐naphthylphenylmethylsityl group. The solution of this problem by the use of chemical and physical methods is described. In addition the stereochemistry of more than twenty stereospecific reactions of silicon is considered. The probable fundamental relationships between organosilicon stereochemistry and the reaction mechanisms of monofunctional R 3 SiY compounds are discussed in a preliminary way.