Iridium-Catalyzed Anti-Markovnikov Hydrosilylation of Vinylbenzenes with a Bis-Silane-Capped Double-Decker Silsesquioxane

Hydrosilylation of double-decker silsesquioxanes is an efficient approach for preparing hybrid materials, especially polymeric materials. Karstedt's catalyst, Pt(dvs), is widely used for this purpose due to its commercial availability, high yields, and good hydrosilylation selectivity. Despite this, vinylbenzenes have been shown to produce multiple hydrosilylated products. This study employs a method involving an iridium catalyst that was significantly more selective for the anti-Markovnikov hydrosilylation product with vinylbenzenes and bis-silane-capped double-decker silsesquioxanes. Obtaining higher purity of hydrosilylated products will allow for the development of the fundamental structure–property relationship of hybrid materials.