Synthesis and Characterization of Octakis(3-propyl ethanethioate)octasilsesquioxane

A novel octakis(3-propyl ethanethioate)octasilsesquioxane was successfully synthesized via nucleophilic substitution on octakis(3-chloropropyl)octasilsesquioxane using potassium thioacetate in aprotic dimethylformamide as a solvent. Complete substitution proceeded at room temperature within a day to produce a crystalline product in high yield. The reaction products were characterized by H-1, C-13, and Si-29 NMR spectroscopy; ESI-MS; and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, confirming the structure of the cubic T-8 cage and demonstrating that the substitution reaction on eight side chains progressed smoothly under ambient conditions without any cage rearrangement or cage decomposition.