Molecular structure and binding energies of monosubstituted hexacarbonyls of chromium,molybdenum, and tungsten: Relativistic density functional study

Relativistic density functional calculations have been carried out for the group VI transition metal carbonyls M(CO)₅L (M=Cr, Mo, W; L=OH₂, NH₃, PH₃, PMe₃, N₂, CO, OC (isocarbonyl), CS, CH₂, CF₂, CCl₂, NO⁺). The optimized molecular structures and M(SINGLE BOND)L bond dissociation energies, as well as the metal–carbonyl bond energy of the trans CO group, have been calculated. Besides the marked dependence of the trans M(SINGLE BOND)CO bond length on the type of ligand L, such an effect on the that bond energy is also observed. For the chromium compounds, the trans Cr(SINGLE BOND)CO bond length varies from 184 to 199 pm and its bond energy from 242 to 150 kJ/mol. For the molybdenum compounds, the range is 197 to 216 pm and 253 to 128 kJ/mol and, for tungsten, 198 to 214 pm and 293 to 159 kJ/mol. The observed trends can be explained with the π acceptor strength of the L ligand. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1985–1992, 1997     

The hydroxyl radical reaction rate constant and products of ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate

The relative rate technique has been used to measure the hydroxyl radical (OH) reaction rate constant of ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate (EEP, CH₃CH₂(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₂C(O)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₃). EEP reacts with OH with a bimolecular rate constant of (22.9±7.4)×10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ at 297±3 K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. In order to more clearly define EEP's atmospheric reaction mechanism, an investigation into the OH+EEP reaction products was also conducted. The OH+EEP reaction products and yields observed were: ethyl glyoxate (EG, 25±1% HC((DOUBLE BOND)O)C((DOUBLE BOND)O)(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₃), ethyl (2-formyl) acetate (EFA, 4.86±0.2%, HC((DOUBLE BOND)O)(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)C((DOUBLE BOND)O)(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₃), ethyl (3-formyloxy) propionate (EFP, 30±1%, HC((DOUBLE BOND)O)(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₂(SINGLE BOND)C((DOUBLE BOND)O)(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₃), ethyl formate (EF, 37±1%, HC((DOUBLE BOND)O)O(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₃), and acetaldehyde (4.9±0.2%, HC((DOUBLE BOND)O)CH₃). Neither the EEP's OH rate constant nor the OH/EEP reaction products have been previously reported. The products' formation pathways are discussed in light of current understanding of oxygenated hydrocarbon atmospheric chemistry. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

π-Bonding contribution to restricted internal rotations in saccharides

Extensive semiempirical SCF-MO calculations confirm that the exo-anomeric effect in methyl O-, N- and S-glycosides deals with an interaction of π-character along the C₁(SINGLE BOND)Y₁ bond in a X₅(SINGLE BOND)C₁(SINGLE BOND)Y₁(SINGLE BOND)Me moiety (where X = O, S; Y = O, NH, S). The bond-order between orbitals of pπ symmetry on C₁ and Y₁ serves as a measure of all significant molecular orbital interactions responsible for the exo-anomeric stabilization. The set of simpler compounds X(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)Y (X = OH, SH, SeH, TeH; Y = OH, SH, SeH, TeH, NH₂) on which the anomeric effect has been well studied was also calculated and it is noticeable that the π-bond-orders accord with the results of other analyses of the ab initio wave function accounting for the anomeric effect. Although the AM1 and the PM3 parameterizations of MNDO do not accurately reproduce the anomeric effect energetic, they do reproduce accordingly the expected variations in the molecular conformations of complex carbohydrates, and thus it follows that there are maximal π-bond-orders for the synclinal arrangement around the C₁(SINGLE BOND)Y₁ bond. In addition, the π-bond-orders show the same behavior for conformational preferences around the C₁(SINGLE BOND)C′₁ and the C₅(SINGLE BOND)C₆ bonds in methyl C-glycosides and in the hydroxymethyl group of α-D -glucose, respectively. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

G2 ab initio calculations on three-membered rings: Role of hydrogen atoms

G2 ab initio calculations on all ABX three-membered rings (TMRs) that can be derived from cyclopropane by systematic substitution of the (SINGLE BOND)CH₂ groups by (SINGLE BOND)NH or (SINGLE BOND)O groups have been performed. Our results show that the decrease in the A(SINGLE BOND)B bond length as the electronegativity of X increases is significantly larger than that found for the corresponding acyclic analogs. In general, a systematic substitution of the (SINGLE BOND)CH₂ groups of cyclopropane by (SINGLE BOND)NH or (SINGLE BOND)O groups implies significant geometric changes that are not reflected in a parallel change of the corresponding conventional ring strain energy (CRSE). When the electronegativity of the groups forming the TMR increases the effect on the CRSE of the system is small, although the charge delocalization inside the ring decreases. The near constancy of the CRSE along the series can be explained in terms of the charge redistribution of the system where the (SINGLE BOND)CH₂ groups play a crucial role. There are, however, significant changes in the hydrogenation energies of the TMR investigated; our results show that, when in an ABX three-membered ring, the electronegativity of X increases the hydrogenation energy of A(SINGLE BOND)B bond decreases and vice versa. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 1072–1086, 1998     

Synthesis and properties of polycarbosilanes with the meta-linkage bending unit by hydrosilylation polymerization

The polycarbosilanes (PCS) with meta-linkage bending unit ((SINGLE BOND)Me₂Si(SINGLE BOND)m(SINGLE BOND)C₆H₄(SINGLE BOND)Me₂Si(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₂(SINGLE BOND)) were successfully synthesized in mild conditions by hydrosilylation in the presence of [Pt{(CH₂(DOUBLE BOND)CHSiMe₂)₂O}₂]. The PCS obtained were soluble in various solvents owing to the lowering of the crystallinity. These properties are well compared with those of the PCS [(SINGLE BOND)Me₂Si(SINGLE BOND)p(SINGLE BOND)C₆H₄(SINGLE BOND)Me₂Si(SINGLE BOND)CH₂CH₂(SINGLE BOND)]_n. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Benzazole-N(SINGLE BOND)BH3 adducts. Reductive transposition of 2-benzimidazole, 2-benzothiazole,and 2-benzoxazole N(SINGLE BOND)BH3 adducts to 1,3,2-benzimidazaborole, 1,3,2-benzoxaborole,and 1,3,2-benzothiazaborole

1,3,2-Benzimidazaborole, 1,3,2-benzoxaborole, and 1,3,2-benzothiazaborole were synthesized from the corresponding 2-benzazole N(SINGLE BOND)BH₃ and 2-benzazole S(SINGLE BOND)BH₃ adducts through a reductive transposition from the isolobal fragment X(SINGLE BOND)C(sp²) (DOUBLE BOND) N(sp²) (SINGLE BOND) B(sp³) (X (DOUBLE BOND) N, O, S) to the fragment X(SINGLE BOND)B(sp²) (DOUBLE BOND) N(sp²) (SINGLE BOND) C(sp³). N(SINGLE BOND)BH₃ substitution shifts to lower frequencies 4-H, C-3a, and C-7a resonances. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 2-(o-methoxyphenyl)benzothiazole N(SINGLE BOND)BH₃ adduct is reported. Two new tetracyclic boron-bridged compounds were observed as by-products (6,9-(ethyl)-diaza-2-oxa-1-bora[3,4,7,8]-dibenzobycyclo[4.3.0]-nona-3,7-diene, 6d, and 8-aza-9-oxa-2-thia-1-bora-[3,4,7,8]dibenzobycyclo[3.4.0]nona-3,7-diene, 15d, when 2-(o-methoxyphenyl)-1-ethylbenzimidazole-BH₃ 6b and 2-(o-methoxyphenyl)-benzothiazole-BH₃ 15b adducts were heated. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ab initio MO study of the solvent effect on the SN2 reaction of the trimethylsulfonium cation with chloride anion

A recently developed ab initio MO theory including solvent effects has been applied to a typical cation-anion reaction, the S_N2 reaction of the trimethylsulfonium cation with the chloride anion. In the gas phase, the trimethylsulfonium and chloride ions are unstabilized, and the reaction is expected to proceed rapidly. In aqueous solution, the reactant ions are largely stabilized, and the reaction has been predicted to be endothermic, with an activation energy of 30–40 kcal/mol. This potential energy profile, which agrees with experimental results, has been well elucidated by differential solvation at several stages of the reaction path. At the transition state of this reaction, the C and H atoms in the transferring CH₃ group are almost in a plane that is perpendicular to the Cl(SINGLE BOND)C(SINGLE BOND)S line, reflecting the concerted nature of the reaction. The population analysis has shown that the electrons in the C(SINGLE BOND)S bond are mostly withdrawn by the sulfur atom at the transition state and that the electron transfer from Cl to CH₃ occurs after the transition state. The calculated activation energy for the reaction in ethanol is smaller than that in water. This agrees with experiments. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure and dissociation of ylidyl chlorophosphanes

The ylidyl substituent of the chlorophosphane Ph₃P(DOUBLE BOND)CAr(SINGLE BOND)PRCl exerts a strong influence on the P(SINGLE BOND)Cl bond. An X-ray structure investigation of the representative with Ar(DOUBLE BOND)Ph, R(DOUBLE BOND)Me reveals the longest P(SINGLE BOND)Cl bond ever observed for an acyclic chlorophosphine (226.2(1) pm). It is connected to a conformation that allows an effective negative hyperconjugation. The ylidyl chlorophosphanes with an amino group R are covalent in benzene but become more or less ionic in dichloromethane solution. The solvent-dependent dissociation equilibrium can be followed by ³¹P NMR spectra. In case of an enamine-derived ylidyl chlorophosphane, the equilibrium shifts almost completely from the covalent to the ionic side within a rather narrow range of solvent composition (20 to 70 vol % dichloromethane). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ab initio studies of three-membered ring formation through intramolecular nucleophilic substitution

Three-membered ring (3MR) forming processes of ⁻X(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)F and ⁻CH₂(SINGLE BOND)C((SINGLE BOND)Y)(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)F (X(DOUBLE BOND)CH₂, O, or S and Y(DOUBLE BOND)0 or S) through a gas phase neighboring group mechanism (S_Ni) are studied theoretically using the ab initio molecular orbital method with the 6–31+G* basis set. When electron correlation effects are considered, the activation (ΔG^≠) and reaction energies (ΔG⁰) are lowered by ca. 10 kcal mol⁻¹, indicating the importance of the electron correlation effect in these reactions. The contribution of entropy of activation (−TΔS^≠) at 298 K to ΔG^≠ is very small, and the reactions are enthalpy controlled. The ΔG^≠ and ΔG⁰ values for these ring closure processes largely depend on the stabilities of the reactants and the heteroatom acting as a nucleophilic center. The Bell–Evans–Polanyi principle applies well to all these reaction series. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1773–1784, 1997     

Hydrogen-bonding interactions of the trifluoromethyl group: 2-Trifluoromethylvinyl alcohol

As part of our investigation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and its geometrical consequences, ab initio molecular orbital calculations on 2-trifluoromethylphenol and 2-trifluoromethylvinyl alcohol and their parent structures were performed at the MP2/6–31+G^** level of theory. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 2-trifluoromethylvinyl alcohol appears stronger than that in 2-trifluoromethylphenol as witnessed by the shorter F...H interaction (1.96 Å) and the greater bond length changes in the rest of the molecule, as compared with the respective parent molecules. Beyond the geometrical characteristics, the energetics of hypothetical isodesmic reactions and the small shift of the O(SINGLE BOND)H stretching frequency indicate that these C(SINGLE BOND)F...H(SINGLE BOND)O interactions are rather weak. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 62: 645–652, 1997     

An infrared study of molybdenum /V/ hydroxide

The IR spectra of paramagnetic Mo/V/ oxygen compounds that are claimed in the literature to be unstable, were measurement in the 4000–3000 and 1200–250 cm^?1 regions. The spectra are poor but show a few bands in the valence and in the OH groups vibrations regions. Mo/V/ hydroxide can be reversibly or irreversibly dehydroxylated thermally in vacuum. The irreversible dehydroxylation of amorphous species containing Mo/V/ hydroxide takes place at >350°C, and is connected with a rearrengement of the atomic OMoO linkage and with crystallization of MoO₃, MoO₂ and Mo₄O₁₁ phases.     

The structure of 1-chlorosilatrane: An ab initio molecular orbital and a density functional theory study

The molecular geometries of the 1-chloro-, 1-fluoro-, 1-methyl-, and 1-hydrogenosilatranes were fully optimized by the restricted Hartree-Fock (HF) method supplemented with 3-21G, 3-21G(d), 6-31G(d), and CEP-31G(d) basis sets; by MP2 calculations using 6-31G(d) and CEP-31G(d) basis sets; and by GGA-DFT calculations using 6-31G(d5) basis set with the aim of locating the positions of the local minima on the energy hypersurface. The HF/6-31G(d) calculations predict long (>254 pm) and the MP2/CEP calculations predicted short (∼225 pm) equilibrium Si(SINGLE BOND)N distances. The present GGA-DFT calculations reproduce the available gas phase experimental Si(SINGLE BOND)N distances correctly. The solid phase experimental results predict that the Si(SINGLE BOND)N distance is shorter in 1-chlorosilatrane than in 1-fluorosilatrane. In this respect the HF results show a strong basis set dependence, the MP2/CEP results contradict the experiment, and the GGA-DFT results in electrolytic medium agree with the experiment. The latter calculations predict that 1-chlorosilatrane is more polarizable than 1-fluorosilatrane and also support a general Si(SINGLE BOND)N distance shortening trend for silatranes during the transition from gas phase to polar liquid or solid phase. The calculations predict that the ethoxy links of the silatrane skeleton are flexible. Consequently, it is difficult to measure experimentally the related bond lengths and bond and torsion angles. This is the probable origin of the surprisingly large differences for the experimental structural parameters. On the basis of experimental analogies, ab initio calculations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a gas phase equilibrium (r_e) geometry is predicted for 1-chlorosilatrane. The semiempirical methods predict a so-called exo minimum (at above 310 pm Si(SINGLE BOND)N distance); however, the ab initio and GGA-DFT calculations suggest that this form is nonexistent. The GGA-DFT geometry optima were characterized by frequency analysis. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The reactions of the Criegee intermediate CH3 CHOO in the gas-phase ozonolysis of 2-butene isomers

Ozonolysis of cis- and trans-2-butene isomers were carried out in a 570 l spherical glass vessel in 730 torr synthetic air at 295 ± 3 K. The initial concentrations were 5 to 10 ppmv for the isomers and 2 to 5 ppmv for ozone. Quantitative yields were determined by FTIR spectroscopy for CH₃CHO, HCHO, CH₄, CH₃OH, CO, and CO₂. By means of computational subtraction of the spectral contribution of the identified products from the product spectra, residual spectra have been obtained. Formation of 2-butene ozonide, propene ozonide, and l-hydroperoxyethyl formate CH₃CH(OOH)(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)CH(O) have been identified in the residual spectra. These products have been shown to be formed in the reactions of the Criegee intermediate CH₃CHOO with CH₃CHO, HCHO, and HCOOH, respectively. Mechanistic implications and atmospheric relevance of these observations are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 461–468, 1997.     

Density functional calculations on Jahn-Teller effect of tetrachloromethane cation

Density functional (DF) calculations of the tetrachloromethane cation and its most important competitive process, the formation of CCl⁺₃, were carried out to explain the possible stability of CCl⁺₄. From results obtained with B-LYP and B-P86 methods, it is possible to produce a slight Jahn-Teller (JT) effect for a C_s planar structure of the cation type CCl₂(SINGLE BOND)Cl(SINGLE BOND)Cl⁺ compatible with the experimental data obtained by electron-spin resonance spectroscopy. A complex of C_3v structure CCl⁺₃(SINGLE BOND)Cl which is similar to the previous one found in CF⁺₄ appears when symmetry-broken wave functions are used in HF-LYP and HF-P86 methods. Depending of the DF method employed, either one of the minima [C_s (planar) and C_3v] is the most stable and competes with the dissociation of the molecular ion to give CCl⁺₃. The JT stabilization energy is smaller when the JT active coordinates are considered. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Comparative study of BSSE correction methods at DFT and MP2 levels of theory

A comparative study of intermolecular potential energy curves is performed on the complexes H₂O(SINGLE BOND)HF, H₂O(SINGLE BOND)H₂O, H₂O(SINGLE BOND)H₂S, and H₂S(SINGLE BOND)H₂S using nine different basis sets at the MP2 and DFT (BLYP and B3LYP) levels of theory. The basis set superposition error is corrected by means of the counterpoise scheme and based on the “chemical Hamiltonian approach.” The counterpoise and CHA-corrected DFT curves are generally close to each other. Using small basis sets, the B3LYP functional cannot be favored against the BLYP one because the BLYP results sometimes get closer to the MP2 values than those of B3LYP. From the results—including the available literature data—we suggest that one has to use at least polarized-valence triple-zeta-quality basis sets (TZV, 6-311G) for the investigation of hydrogen-bonded complexes. Special attention must be paid to the physical nature of the binding. If the dispersion forces become significant DFT methods are not able to describe the interaction. Proper correction for the basis set superposition error is found to be mandatory in all cases. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 575–584, 1998     

Silaacetylene: A possible target for experimental studies

The equilibrium geometries and transition states for interconversion of the CSiH₂ isomers in the singlet electronic ground state are optimized at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory using a TZ2P basis set. The heats of formation, vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and rotational constants are also predicted. There are three energy minima on the CSiH₂ potential energy surface. Energy calculations at CCSD(T)/TZ2P(fd) + ZPE predict that the global energy minimum is silavinylidene (1), which is 34.1 kcal mol⁻¹ lower in energy than trans-bent silaacetylene (2) and 84.1 kcal mol⁻¹ more stable than the vinylidene isomer (3). The barrier for rearrangement 2→1 is calculated at the same level of theory to be 5.1 kcal mol⁻¹, while for the rearrangement 3→2 a barrier of 2.7 kcal mol⁻¹ is predicted. The natural bond orbital (NBO) population scheme indicates a clear polarization of the C(SINGLE BOND)Si bonds toward the carbon end. A significant ionic contribution to the C(SINGLE BOND)Si bonds of 1 and 2 is suggested by the NBO analysis. The C(SINGLE BOND)Si bond length of trans-bent silaacetylene (2) is longer than previously calculated [1.665 Å at CCSD(T)/TZ2P)]. The calculated carbon-silicon bond length of 2 is in the middle between the C(SINGLE BOND)Si double bond length of 1 (1.721 Å) and the C(SINGLE BOND)Si triple bond of the linear form HCSiH (4), which is 1.604 Å. Structure 4 is a higher-order saddle point on the potential energy surface. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermodynamics of vinyl ethers—XV : Halogen-containing vinyl ethers

Thermodynamics of geometrical and prototropic isomerization reactions on some halogen-containing vinyl ethers of the types ROCH–CHX (X = Cl, Br), ROC(CH₂X)CH₂ (X = F, Cl, Br), and ROC(CHMeCl)CH₂ (R = Me, Et, Et₂CH) have been studied. In ROCH_αCH_βX the cis (or Z) isomer is thermodynamically the more stable isomer, the higher stability of the Z isomer being due to its lower enthalpy. The relative stability of the E and Z forms is, however, reversed if the α H atom is replaced by a Me group. In systems like OCCX the double-bond stabilizing ability of the halogen atom decreases in the order Cl > Br > F, in contrast to the case in haloalkenes, where the corresponding order is F > Cl > Br.     

Modeling properties of the HF dimer in argon clusters

We compare geometry configurations, vibrational properties, and electronic structures of (HF)₂ in a free state and inside argon atom shells Ar_n. For the first stage, molecular dynamics calculations for the (HF)₂ · Ar₆₂ heterocluster are performed with the help of model potentials HF(SINGLE BOND)HF, Ar(SINGLE BOND)Ar, and Ar(SINGLE BOND)HF. Then, ab initio quantum chemistry analysis is carried out for the smaller systems (HF)₂ · Ar₁₅ and (HF)₂ · Ar₆ when keeping the argon atoms closest to the trapped dimer. We conclude that the hydrogen-bonded complex (HF)₂ gains some extra stability inside the argon shells, originating primarily from a decrease of intermolecular distance R_FF. Electronic structure calculations are in accord with the changes in dynamical properties, namely, a noticeable increase in the vibrational frequency assigned to the F(SINGLE BOND)F stretching mode (+25 cm⁻¹) and decrease in rms deviations for the corresponding coordinate δ_FF. In addition to these changes, the argon atoms of the nearest solvent shell donate a small fraction of electron charge which is spent for an increase of population of the antibonding orbital σ^* of the free monomer unit and shift orbital energies primarily of the lone-pair fluorine species. These shifts are greater than the changes due to geometry alterations and the possible inaccuracies of the calculation scheme. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conformational analysis and rotation barriers of 2-aminoethanethiol and 2-aminoethanol: An ab initio study

All the possible rotamers of 2-aminoethanol and 2-amino-ethanethiol were fully optimized at the ab initio level using the 6–31G** basis with correlation energy inclusion and zero-point energy evaluation. Thirteen local minima for the former and 14 for the latter compound were found. In both molecules, the gauche′-gauche-gauche′ (g′Gg′) is the prevailing conformation, but in the sulfurated compound, it is accompanied by relevant percentages of other conformers, owing to the very low ΔE values. The stability of the g′Gg′ accommodation derives mainly from the presence of weak hydrogen bridges (O(SINGLE BOND)H···N and S(SINGLE BOND)H···N, respectively). The rotation barriers around the C(SINGLE BOND)C and C(SINGLE BOND)N bonds are higher than those around the C(SINGLE BOND)O and C(SINGLE BOND)S ones. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chain transfer by addition-fragmentation mechanism. VII. Radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of ethyl 2-[1-(trimethylsilylperoxy)ethyl]propenoate and related compounds

Ethyl 2-[1-(trimethylsilylperoxy)ethyl]propenoate 1 , ethyl 2-[1-(dimethylvinylsilylperoxy)-ethyl]propenoate 2 , ethyl 2-[1-(1-(2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-methyl-2-propenylperoxysilyl)-1-methylethylperoxy)ethyl]propenoate 3 , and 2-phenyl-2-trimethylsilylperoxypropane 4 were synthesized and added to the free radical polymerization of vinylic monomers. 1 and 2 were found to show no homopolymerizability but act as effective chain transfer reagents in radical polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), and n-butyl acrylate (BA). The estimated chain transfer constants (C_tr) are as follows: C_tr ( 1 ) = 0.15 for MMA, 0.90 for St, and 2.03 for BA at 60°C; C_tr ( 2 ) = 0.12 for MMA, 1.16 for St, and 1.9 for BA at 60°C. ¹H–NMR spectra of poly(St) formed in the presence of 1 is consistent with the view that the polymers bear an oxirane at one terminal and an trimethylsilyloxy fragment at the other end. Moreover, peroxysilane 4 showed very low transfer properties by direct homolytic substitution (SH₂). These findings indicate that the ethyl 2-[1-(substituted dimethylsilylperoxy)ethyl]-propenoates 1–3 undergo chain transfer reaction via a intramolecular homolytic substitution (SHi) following an addition process. Preparation of poly(styrene) up to high conversion in the presence of 3 yielded to the formation of the corresponding polymeric structures bearing hydrolysable C(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)Si(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)C bonds. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.