SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA,OMEGA-ARYLAMINE FUNCTIONALIZED POLY(DIMETHYLSILOXANE)S

This research has focused on the development of telechelic, aromatic amine functional, poly (dimethylsiloxane) oligomers without any aliphatic components in the polymer back-bone. The intent is to produce flexible oligomers with enhanced thermal stability for incorporation into materials which will be processed at elevated temperatures. The poly (dimethylsiloxane)s have been synthesized using living polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with protected aniline derivatives as initiators and termination reagents for the reactions. Low molecular weight oligomers prepared using the living polymerization method can be easily converted to a range of higher, controlled molecular weight materials in redistribution reactions. A basic tetramethylammonium siloxanolate catalyst in conjunction with octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane has been used for the equilibration procedure.