Evaluation of absolute configuration of naphthylphenyl-substituted oligosilanes by CD exciton chirality method

Abstract
Absolute configurations of methylnaphthylphenyl-substituted oligosilanes, MeNpPhSi*SiMeR1R2 [2 (R1, R2=Me), 3 (R1=Me, R2=Ph), 4 (R1, R2=Ph), and 5 (R1=Me, R2=SiMe3)] were predicted by circular dichroism (CD) exciton chirality method. The σ–π conjugation effect of oligosilylene units (σ-linkage) with π-electron systems caused an intense red-shift of 1La,Ph transition band of the oligosilanes as shown in UV/VIS and made it possible to observe clear CD exciton chirality between the two aromatic chromophores on chiral silicon atom. Chirality 15:231–237, 2003.