Functionalization of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes with bis(hydroxyethyl) ester and preparation of the corresponding degradable nanohybrids

One novel difunctionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) derivative was designed and synthesized by a convenient method with high yield. 1H NMR and FT-IR characterizations suggested that Michael addition reaction successfully took place between 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and aminopropylisobutyl POSS (POSS-NH2) under mild conditions, which finally formed bi(hydroxyethyl) ester-functionalized POSS derivatives (BH-POSS). Due to the similar functional groups and high reactivity, BH-POSS could be easily incorporated into the main-chain of biodegradable aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters PBTL via in situ melt polycondensation to prepare corresponding degradable nanohybrids with high mechanical properties.