Synthesis of a new class of silsesquioxanes with alkynyl and germyl functionality

Abstract

Although there are a variety of functional compounds in the vast family of silsesquioxanes (POSS), the number of protocols describing specific monosubstituted silsesquioxanes is limited. There are even fewer reports on alkynyl and/or germyl functionalities appearing together with the POSS compounds. Here, a series of novel kinds of cubic monosubstituted POSS bearing alkynyl and germyl functionality in one molecule are reported. These compounds were synthesized by effective germylative coupling of terminal alkynes with vinylgermanes in the presence of a Ru–H complex. The structures of the products were determined. Moreover, stoichiometric reactions of a complex possessing Ru–Ge were also performed to propose the general mechanistic scheme of this reaction.