Method for preparing alkoxysilane cluster compounds; resulting novel compounds; and their use as functional fluids

An alkoxysilane cluster compound of the formula:

• ##STR7## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl;
• each R' is independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, or aryls or aralkyls with the proviso that at least a majority of R' radicals are sterically hindered alkyl groups having at least 3 carbon atoms;
• each R" is selected from alkoxy-, hydroxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted alkyl or alkenyl groups having from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• alkoxy-, hydroxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted aryl or aralkyl groups having 6 to about 14 carbon atoms;
• or polyoxyethylene groups;
• and x, y, and z are individually selected from 0, 1, 2, and 3 with the proviso that the sum of x+y+z is from 1 to 8.

In a method wherein a first mechanical effort is converted to pressure at a first location, the pressure is transmitted from said first location to a second location via a hydraulic fluid, and said pressure is converted to a second mechanical effect at said second location, the improvement which comprises using as said hydraulic fluid one which comprises an effective amount of a compound having the formula:

• ##STR8## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl;
• each R' is independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, aryls or aralkyls with the proviso that at least a majority of R' radicals are sterically hindered alkyl groups having at least 3 carbon atoms;
• each R" is selected from alkoxy-, hydroxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted alkyl or alkenyl groups having from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• alkoxy-, hydroxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted aryl or aralkyl groups having about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms;
• or polyoxyethylene groups;
• and x, y, and z are individually selected from 0, 1, 2, and 3 with the proviso that the sum of x+y+z is from 1 to 8.

In a method wherein heat is passed from a first heat conductor to a heat transfer fluid at a first location, the heat is transmitted from said first location to a second location via said heat transfer fluid, and said heat is passed to a second heat conductor at said second location;

• the improvement which comprises using as said heat transfer fluid one which comprises an effective amount of a compound having the formula:
• ##STR9## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl;
• each R' is independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, aryls or aralkyls with the proviso that at least a majority of R' radicals are sterically hindered alkyl groups having at least 3 carbon atoms;
• each R" is selected from alkoxy-, hydroxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted alkyl or alkenyl groups having from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms;
• alkoxy-, hydroxy-, halo-, or cyano-substituted aryl or aralkyl groups having about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms;
• or polyoxyethylene groups;
• and x, y, and z are individually selected from 0, 1, 2, and 3 with the proviso that the sum of x+y+z is from 1 to 8.