Synthesis and chemistry of a monotethered-POSS bis(cyanate) ester: Thermal curing of micellar aggregates leads to discrete nanoparticles

A new monotethered-POSS (Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes) molecule that will form micellar aggregates that undergo a thermally induced polymerization/cure reaction to afford very stable and discrete nanosized macromolecular structures was synthesized. denoted as POSS-nanoplanets. The unique structures have a defined core of cured cyanate ester resin, a crust largely consisting of the Si8012 inorganic cages, and an atmosphere that is dominated by the hydrocarbon isobutyl chains. The difference in size of the groups dictates that the cyanate esters will be directed to the core of a micelle. This results in a very high effective concentration of the cyanate ester groups and may also provide some degree of preorganization for the subsequent trimerization reaction. The core surface area can easily accommodate the footprint of 18 POSS molecules to form a hybrid crust.