Efficient Functionalisation of Cubic Monovinylsilsesquioxanes via Cross-Metathesis and Silylative Coupling with Olefins in the Presence of Ruthenium Complexes

Monovinylheptaisobutylsilsesquioxane undergoes efficient cross-metathesis and silylative coupling with styrenes. Allyl derivatives were successfully tested in cross-metathesis in the presence of first generation Grubbs' catalyst, while heteroatom-substituted vinyl derivatives (vinyl ethers, 9-vinylcarbazole) efficiently undergo silylative coupling catalysed by ruthenium hydride complexes. Both reactions proceed highly stereoselectively and lead to nearly quantitative formation of E isomers. Only when vinyl ethers are used does the reaction lead to a mixture of stereoisomers. Atmospheric pressure photoionisation has been successfully used for recording mass spectra of the functionalised silsesquioxanes.