SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW PHOTOSENSITIVE POLY(OXYARYLENEOXYDISILANE)S FROM 1,2-BIS(DIETHYLAMINO)TETRAMETHYLDISILANE AND VARIOUS BISPHENOLS

A new class of polymers containing a photosensitive disilane unit in the polymer main chain with inherent viscosities between 0.1 and 0.59 dL/g was prepared by the melt polycondensation of 1,2‐bis (diethylamino) tetramethyldisilane and various bisphenols. The polymers were characterized by UV, IR, 1H‐NMR, and elemental analysis. Poly(oxyaryleneoxydisilane)s were soluble in a variety of common organic solvents and have a wide range of glass transition temperatures varying between −65 and 135°C, depending on the arylene structure. Most of the polymers were stable up to 350°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. The inherent viscosity of the polymer containing the 1,6‐napthalene unit decreased drastically upon UV light irradiation, indicating its photodegradation. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.