Stereomutations in silicate oligomerization: the role of steric hindrance and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

Stereomutation has previously been explored in the literature with regard to the different mechanisms and activation energy barriers between different forms. However, the forces which govern stereomutations within the intermediate steps in chemical reactions have not been explored previously, a topic addressed in this article. The process of silicate oligomerization has been chosen in this study and it is demonstrated that steric hindrance of molecules and intramolecular hydrogen bonding govern the stereomutation of intermediate pentacoordinate silicon compounds in the silicate oligomerization process. It could be observed that the combined effect of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and steric hindrance in the silicate oligomerization process facilitates the conventional berry pseudorotation mechanism rather than other pseudorotation mechanisms reported in the literature.