Methyltrimethoxysilane sol-gel polymerization in acidic ethanol solutions studied by 29Si NMR spectroscopy

Si-29 solution NMR has been used to study the acid-catalyzed polymerization of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) in ethanol. The complex reaction pathways have been analyzed, and the general trends described. New interpretations are given to the rate constants of condensation reactions. The steric effects and inductive effects are found to work in coordination to reduce the reactivity of the silicon sites with the increasing connectivity. The extensive cyclization is attributed to the low steric effects of a tetramer ring closure compared to other end/end species condensations.