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

This article studies the reactions and mechanisms of H8Si8O12 (T8H8) 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 T8H8 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 -OC3H7 in the reaction product. T8H8 also reacts with acetone, and the resultant product possesses Si-OCH(CH3)(2). Allyl alcohol is less reactive to cause T8H8 decomposition, and the resultant product contains Si-OCH2CH(sic)CH2 and Si-OCH2(CH2)(3)CH(sic)CH2. However, it is found that basically T8H8 does not react with acetic acid and 1-octene. In the reactions of T8H8 with n-butylamine and allylamine, the resultant products contain Si-NH(CH2)(3)CH3 and Si-NHCH2CH(sic)CH2, respectively. For the reaction with T8H8, allylamine is less active than n-butylamine. Possible mechanisms for the T8H8 reactions are discussed.