A higher yielding route for T8 silsesquioxane cages and X-ray crystal structures of some novel spherosilicates

• DOI: 10.1039/b302950f
• Publication Date: 2003-07-09T11:53:09Z
• Authors: Alan R. Bassindale; Zhihua Liu; Iain A. MacKinnon; Peter G. Taylor; Yuxing Yang; Mark E. Light; Peter N. Horton; Michael B. Hursth...
• Keywords: Silsesquioxane; Crystal (programming language)

The synthesis of T8 silsesquioxane cages from trialkoxysilanes using tetra n-butylammonium fluoride is described. yields are in the range 20–95%, which a great improvement on other literature routes. This methodology enables wide functionalised to be prepared. X-ray crystal structures three new cages, octacyclopentylsilsesquioxane, octaisobutylsilsesquioxane and octa(4-carboxymethyl-3,3-dimethylbutyl)silsesquioxane also reported.