Organosilylated Cage Germoxanes Encapsulating Fluoride Ions for Creating Functional Nanomaterials

Recent advances in the design and synthesis of functionalized cage germoxanes that encapsulate fluoride ions to create various nanomaterials are presented. Organosilylation of the Ge−OH groups at the vertices of the cage is a versatile method for conferring solubility in organic solvents and chemical reactivity for grafting and cross-linking. Organosilylated cage germoxanes can be used to prepare nanoporous solids with tunable pore characteristics, self-healing silicone-based elastomers, and a new class of inorganic-organic hybrid ionic liquids. The unique properties of these nanomaterials arising from the Ge−O−Ge framework, fluoride anions encapsulated within the framework, counter cations outside the framework, and organosilyl groups at the vertices of the cage are described.