Modified cubic spherosilicates as macroinitiators for the synthesis of inorganic–organic starlike polymers

Modified cubic spherosilicate cages of the type Si₈O₂₀]^8? were used as rigid, inorganic cores for the synthesis of macroinitiators for thermal and photoinduced free radical and controlled radical polymerizations. Two different routes to these macroinitiators were investigated: the direct modification of the octaanion with chlorosilane‐functionalized initiators and the hydrosilation of SiH‐substituted cages. The latter synthesis of the macroinitiators resulted in more defined reaction products. With these compounds, the polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate were carried out. The free radical polymerizations showed broad polydispersities based on coupling reactions, whereas the copper‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRP) revealed that good polymerization control could be achieved with the prepared initiators. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3858–3872, 2002