The role of thiol moieties in the synthesis of octa(3-mercaptopropyl)octasilsesquioxane is elucidated.
Rod-like geometry of the molecule and self-assembling of side groups affect crystalline packing morphology.
Solid-solid and solid-liquid mesomorphic transitions were observed for crystalline octa(3-mercaptopropyl)octasilsesquioxane.