Spectroscopically tracing the reactions of octahydridosilsesquioxane (H₈Si₈O₁₂) with organic molecules

Abstract

This article studies the reactions and mechanisms of H 8 Si 8 O 12 (T 8 H 8 ) molecules with n-propanol, acetone, allyl alcohol, n-butylamine, allylamine, acetic acid, and 1-octene in air, at room temperature, and without catalysts. The reaction between T 8 H 8 and n-propanol involves both the highly polarized Si O and Si H bonds and results in cage breakage and forming Q 4 and Q 3 structures with OC 3 H 7 in the reaction product. T 8 H 8 also reacts with acetone, and the resultant product possesses Si OCH(CH 3 ) 2 . Allyl alcohol is less reactive to cause T 8 H 8 decomposition, and the resultant product contains Si OCH 2 CH CH 2 and Si OCH 2 (CH 2 ) 3 CH CH 2 . However, it is found that basically T 8 H 8 does not react with acetic acid and 1-octene. In the reactions of T 8 H 8 with n-butylamine and allylamine, the resultant products contain Si NH(CH 2 ) 3 CH 3 and Si NHCH 2 CH CH 2 , respectively. For the reaction with T 8 H 8 , allylamine is less active than n-butylamine. Possible mechanisms for the T 8 H 8 reactions are discussed. K E Y W O R D Sacetone, allyl alcohol, allylamine, H 8 Si 8 O 12 , n-butylamine, n-propanol, silsesquioxane