Rh-catalyzed direct arylation of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Abstract

The electronic properties of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have recently been subjected to study. Although theoretical calculations have predicted that POSS can work as an acceptor for π-conjugated organic units, an effective reaction to incorporate aryl groups into a POSS backbone remains to be established. In this work, Rh-catalyzed direct arylation has been developed. Heptaisobutyl-POSS with a Si–H group was reacted with various aryl halides to form aryl-substitued POSSs.