Synthesis and Properties of Perfluoroalkyl Groups Containing Double Four-Ring Spherosilicate (Siloxysilsesquioxane) Precursors

Organically modified cage-like double four-ring spherosilicates have received considerable interest in the construction of nanosized hybrid materials, as well as building units for structural well-defined polymers. This group is extended by perfluoroalkyl ligands containing spherosilicates, synthesized by addition reaction of the octahydridodimethylsiloxyoctasilsesquioxane [H(CH3)2Si]8Si8O20 and heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate. The resultant liquid spherosilicate substituted with eight terminal perfluoroalkyl groups was characterized by 29Si and 13C NMR spectroscopies and MALDI Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry. Partial substitution of perfluoroalkyl ligands by trimethoxysilyl containing groups provides condensable precursors for the synthesis of hydrophobic and oleophobic materials via the sol-gel process. This new spherosilicate, carrying on average four perfluoroalkyl groups and four trimethoxysilyl groups shows better hydrophobic and oleophobic properties compared with commonly used perfluoroalkyltrialkoxysilanes under identical concentration of perfluoroalkyl chains. In addition a comprehensive literature survey is given on structural well characterized, organically modified cage-like double four-ring spherosilicates.