Trialkoxysilane Exchange: Scope, Mechanism, Cryptates and pH-Response

The dynamic covalent chemistry (DCvC) of the Si-O bond holds unique opportunities, but has rarely been employed to assemble discrete molecular architectures. This may be due to the harsh conditions required to initiate exchange reactions at silicon in aprotic solvents. Herein, we provide a comprehensive experimental and computational account on the reaction of trialkoxysilanes with alcohols and identify mild conditions for rapid exchange in aprotic solvents. Substituent, solvent and salt effects are uncovered, understood and exploited for the construction of sila-orthoester cryptates. A sharp, divergent pH-response of the obtained cages renders this substance class attractive for future applications well beyond host-guest chemistry, for instance, in drug delivery.