Application of Hydrazine Hydrate in the Synthesis of Octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS) Poss

Jacob Kiptanui Koech, Qun Shao, Fredrick Nzioka Mutua, Yimin Wang

State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.

DOI: 10.4236/aces.2013.31011                

Abstract

Octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS) was prepared from octaphenyl silsesquioxane (OPS) in two steps, first nitration to obtain Octa(nitrophenyl)silsesquioxane (ONPS) then reduction by using the stable, inexpensive, and readily available hydrazine hydrate as the reducing agent in the presence of Iron(III)Chloride catalyst with a yield of around 87%. Hydrazine is a two-electron reducing agent whereas nitro group is a four-electron reduction process. The activated carbon serves as an adsorbent and electrical conductor enabling the reaction to occur by acting as a mediator between a two-electron reagent and a four-electron process. Adsorption provides a reducing potential and a supply of electrons from many hydrazines making possible the initial four-electron process even though each individual hydrazine is a two-electron donor. The product was characterized by FTIR and ¹H NMR. The time period for preparation of ONPS from octaphenyl silsesquioxane was considerably shortened to avoid double nitration of the aromatic rings.

Keywords

Octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane; Octa(nitrophenyl)silsesquioxane; Hydrazine; Nanocomposite; Iron(III)Chloride; Reduction

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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