Preparation of cage-like octa(3-aminopropyl)silsesquioxane trifluoromethanesulfonate in higher yield with a shorter reaction time

Cage-like octa(3-aminopropyl)silsesquioxane trifluoromethanesulfonate (OAP-POSS-CF3SO3) was prepared in higher yield (ca. 93%) with a shorter reaction time (ca. 5–6 h), when the hydrolytic condensation of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane was performed using the superacid trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst. The structure of the resulting OAP-POSS-CF3SO3 was confirmed mainly by 29Si NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, ESI MS, and IR measurements. It is suggested that the lower pKa of the acid catalyst is an important factor leading to the improved yield for the preparation of OAP-POSS-CF3SO3.