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 Q⁴ and Q³ 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-CH₂ and Si-OCH₂(CH₂)₃CH-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)₃CH₃ and Si-NHCH₂CH-CH₂, respectively. For the reaction with T₈H₈, allylamine is less active than n-butylamine. Possible mechanisms for the T₈H₈ reactions are discussed.