Copper(ii) triflate-mediated synthesis of functionalized silsesquioxanes via dehydrogenative coupling of POSS silanols with hydrosilanes

Abstract

In light of the fact that the design of new catalytic routes leading to functionalized silsesquioxanes is currently of high relevance; herein we report a novel, highly effective and convenient catalytic approach for the modification of silsesquioxanes. We present a dehydrogenative coupling reaction of completely as well as incompletely condensed POSS silanols with a wide range of commercially available hydrosilanes mediated by inexpensive copper(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate. This research also includes mechanistic studies for this process.