Friedel-Crafts alkylation of octaphenyl-octasilsesquioxane (OPS) introduces a hydrocarbon layer around the rigid OPS core (see figure). Although periodic order is maintained even in the melt, as determined from X-ray diffraction measurements, this layer provides access to low-melting solids for butyl, hexyl, octyl, and decyl substituents. Because the alkyl groups interdigitate, the butyl and hexyl melts are stable to temperatures of ca. 400 degrees C, which is ca. 100 degrees C higher than the octyl and decyl compounds.