Alkali metal silsesquioxane derivatives

Fully metalated silsesquioxane derivatives of the type Cy7Si709(0M)3 (M = Li, Na, K) would constitute highly desirable precursors for the construction of realistic catalyst model compounds, including novel heterobimetallic species. However, such alkali metal derivatives of 2-7 were unknown until recently, and structural information on such materials was lacking. There have also been contrasting reports in the literature concerning the metalation of 3 by alkali metal... 

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