Polyhedranes

In 1982, the synthesis and properties of a new polycyclic C2oH2o hydrocarbon, dodecahedrane, was reported [21], The twenty carbon atoms of this molecule are arranged like the vertices of a regular dodecahedron. When, in the early 1960s, H. P. Schultz discussed the topology of the polyhedrane and prismane molecules (vide infra) [22], at that time it was in terms of a geometrical diversion rather than true-life chemistry. Since then it has become real chemistry. 

The preparation of dodecahedrane, (CH)20, (Figure 3-2Id) by Paquette et al. [52] followed Schultz s prediction almost two decades before, concerning possible hydrocarbon polyhedranes [53] ... 

Keywords cage polysilane, silicon polyhedranes, reactions... 

Tetrasilatetrahedrane is accessible if the appropriate substituent is selected. As found in the case of the octasilacubane (/frr-BuMe2SiSi)s (15), silyl substituents decrease the strain in the polyhedrane (14). Thus, the synthesis of tetrasilatetrahedrane has been accomplished by use of the supersilyl group (/ert-BusSi) (10). 

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