PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL ORGANOPOLYSILANE - (3,3,3-TRIFLUOROPROPYL)METHYLPOLYSILANE

The first soluble (fluoroalkyl)polysilane high polymer was prepared by a conventional Wurtz-type reaction of dichlorosilane and sodium in n-paraffins above 150-degrees-C. The structure of this polymer was determined by elemental analyses (C and H), gel permeation chromatography, and spectral analyses [FT-IR, FT-NMR (H-1, C-12, F-19, and Si-29), and UV]. The molecular weight distribution of the polymer was monomodal, and the weight-average molecular weight of this polymer was 31 000. The UV absorption maximum due to Si catenation was at 285 nm. This is the shortest wavelength yet reported for an organopolysilane high polymer. The thermochromic behavior of this polymer was also observed in the solid state at temperatures from -120 to + 100-degrees-C. The polymer began to decompose at around 200-degrees-C, and its glass transition temperature was -3-degrees-C, which was higher than that of the nonfluorinated polymer.