Silicon Forms a Rich Diversity of Aliphatic Polyol Complexes in Aqueous Solution

A detailed examination of aqueous Si complexation by alditols and aldonic acids was conducted using high-sensitivity ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy of isotopically enriched solutions combined with theoretical modeling. Contrary to previous thinking, we have established that aliphatic polyols do not require a threo pair of hydroxy groups to form hypercoordinated Si complexes, although formation constants may be orders of magnitude higher if they are present. Thirteen distinctly different molecular assemblages containing 4-, 5-, or 6-coordinate Si centers have been identified, with significant concentrations of 5-coordinate Si bis-ligand complex being detected even under biologically relevant solution conditions.