Recent Progress in Metal-containing Silsesquioxanes: Preparation and Application

Background: Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes are one subclass of silsesquioxanes characterized by a cage-like nanostructure. They are one of the most popular organic and inorganic hybrid molecules. As one of derivatives of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, metal-containing silsesquioxane is a new type of organometallic compound which is becoming attractive. Its properities may be affected deeply due to the different type of metal containing silsesquioxanes. Nowadays, they are increasingly promising in the field of catalytic materials, hybrid materials, medical materials and functional materials and so on. Objective: In this review, we reviewed progress in the synthesis of metal-containing silsesquioxanes in the past 5 years and the applications of metal-containing silsesquioxanes in which the literatures are not limited by the most recent 5 years in order to convery the lastest research progress to readers. Conclusion: Metal-containing silsesquioxanes were synthesized either by the main group metal or transition metal complexes with silsesquioxane silanolate ligands, or by condensed cage-like silsesquioxanes with other functional groups such as hydroxyl, amino and carboxyl. As for latter, by introducing functional groups, a variety of novel metal-containing silsesquioxane compounds will be created. Therefore, metal-containing silsesquioxanes for its unique properties and well defined structures could be used widely in the study of catalysts in chemical processes, building blocks for high performance materials, functional materials and medical materials.