Synthesis of aldehyde functionalised polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

Hydrosilylation reactions have been used to functionalise the exterior surf aces of octavinyloctasilsesquioxane molecules to provide routes to octaalde hyde molecules. These have been characterised by NMR and MALDI (matrix assi sted laser desorption/ionisation)-TOF mass spectroscopy. Further reactions of the molecules to produce carboxylic acid and Schiff base functionalised species are also reported. The effect of temperature and catalyst on the re gioselectivity of the reaction is discussed.