SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(1-METHYL-1-SILABUTANE), POLY(1-PHENYL-1-SILABUTANE) AND POLY(1-SILABUTANE)

Anionic ring opening polymerization of 1-methyl-1-silacyclobutane, 1-phenyl-1-silacyclobutane and 1-silacyclobutane co-catalyzed by n-butyllithium and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) in THF at -78-degrees-C yields poly(1-methyl-1-silabutane), poly(1-phenyl-1-silabutane) and poly(1-silabutane) respectively. These saturated carbosilane polymers possess reactive Si-H bonds. They have been characterized by H-1, C-13 and Si-29 NMR as well as FT-IR and UV spectroscopy. Their molecular weight distributions have been determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermal stabilities by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and glass transition temperatures (T(g)) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).