This grant from the Organic Dynamics Program supports the continuing work of Dr. Robert Damrauer at the University of Colorado at Denver, who is investigating the reactions of organosilicon species. This comparative study of carbon and silicon compounds will afford a better fundamental understanding of the chemical properties that allow silicon compounds to be widely used in organic synthesis. The experiments to be carried out by Dr. Damrauer will focus on two areas. First, condensed-phase studies of silicon cage compounds and silacyclobutanes will probe the reactivity of silicon placed in extreme molecular environments. Second, gas-phase ion-molecule chemistry will be used to prepare and study silicon anions along with their corresponding neutral species. The latter studies will be carried out using tandem flowing-afterglow techniques, and they will afford direct information about thermochemistry, reactivities, and substituent effects in organosilicon compounds.
