Lithium-Templated Formation of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS)

A coordination complex, lithium hepta­(i-butyl)­silsesquioxane trisilanolate (1; Li-T7), a stable intermediate in silsesquioxane (SQ) syntheses, was successfully isolated in 65% yield and found to be highly soluble in nonpolar solvents such as hexane. The structure of Li-T7 was confirmed by NMR, IR spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and computational simulation, providing detailed elucidation of the intermolecular self-association of the SQ cage with a box-shaped Li6O6 polyhedron through strong coordination bonds. After acid treatment, Li-T7 undergoes lithium–proton cationic exchange, yielding hepta­(i-butyl)­silsesquioxane trisilanol (2; H-T7) quantitatively. The high yield of H-T7 seems to be influenced by Li–O bonding in the Li-T7 complex that affects the selective formation of hepta­(i-butyl)­silsesquioxane trisilanolate and the bulky i-butyl groups which may prevent decomposition or SQ cage-rearrangement even at reflux under alkaline conditions. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography confirms the presence of the dumbbell-shaped SQ partial cages through strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Interestingly, lowering the polarity of the reaction solution by adding dichloromethane results in formation of the cubic octa­(i-butyl)­silsesquioxane (3; T8) cage in a good yield (47%), which is isolated by crystallization from the reaction solution.