Further studies of fluoride ion entrapment in octasilsesquioxane cages; X-ray crystal structure studies and factors that affect their formation?

Dalton Transactions Pub Date: 2011-12-19 DOI: 10.1039/C1DT11340B

Abstract

A range of fluoride-encapsulated octasilsesquioxane cage compounds have been prepared using the TBAF route. Our studies suggest that whilst it is relatively straightforward to prepare fluoride-encapsulated octasilsesquioxane cage compounds with adjacent sp2 carbons, leading to a range of aryl and vinyl substituted compounds, the corresponding sp3 carbon derivatives are more capricious, requiring an electron withdrawing group that can stabilize the cage whilst not acting as a leaving group. Analysis by X-ray crystallography and solution 19F/29Si NMR spectroscopy of R8T8@F? reveal very similar environments for the encapsulated fluoride octasilsesquioxane cages. Migration of a fluoride ion from inside the cage to outside the cage without breaking the T8 framework and the possibility of encapsulating other anions within silsesquioxane cages have been also investigated.

Graphical abstract: Further studies of fluoride ion entrapment in octasilsesquioxane cages; X-ray crystal structure studies and factors that affect their formation
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