Full functionalized silica nanostructure with well-defined size and functionality: Octakis(3-mercaptopropyl)octasilsesquioxane

Abstract The acid hydrolysis of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane resulted in the formation of cubic silsesquioxane 1 containing original organic function (SH). The structure was elucidated through X-ray single crystal diffraction, spectral (FTIR and NMR) techniques and elemental analysis. Values of the inner and outer diameter of the nanostructure of 0.54, 1.63 nm were found. Thermal behavior was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while that in dependence on moisture was assessed through water vapor sorption in dynamic regime (DVS). The biological activity of the compound was also tested.