Synthesis of aldehyde functionalised polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

Abstract

Hydrosilylation reactions have been used to functionalise the exterior surfaces of octavinyloctasilsesquioxane molecules to provide routes to octaaldehyde molecules. These have been characterised by NMR and MALDI (matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation)-TOF mass spectroscopy. Further reactions of the molecules to produce carboxylic acid and Schiff base functionalised species are also reported. The effect of temperature and catalyst on the regioselectivity of the reaction is discussed.