Synthesis and characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methylphenylsilane)‐ block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) by atom transfer radical polymerization

ABA block copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methylphenylsilane were synthesized with a methodology based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The reaction of samples of α,ω‐dihalopoly(methylphenylsilane) with 2‐hydroxyethyl‐2‐methyl‐2‐bromoproprionate gave suitable macroinitiators for the ATRP of methyl methacrylate. The latter procedure was carried out at 95 °C in a xylene solution with CuBr and 2,2‐bipyridine as the initiating system. The rate of the polymerization was first‐order with respect to monomer conversion. The block copolymers were characterized with ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry was used to obtain preliminary evidence of phase separation in the copolymer products. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 30–40, 2003     

Structural and spectroscopic studies of silylated cyclo- and bicyclosilanes

A number of cyclo-and bicyclosilanes have been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. 1,1,4,4- and 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)octamethylcyclohexasilanes were found to exhibit unusual twist- and twisted boat-conformations. The UV absorption properties of all compounds were studied and found to show absorption maxima red shifted compared to the parent compound dodecamethylcyclohexasilane. Dedicated to Prof. Mitsuo Kira on the occasion of his reception of the Wacker Silicon Award 2005 and in recongnition of his numerous outstanding achievements in organosilicon chemistry.     

Weak noncovalent Si···F?C interactions stabilized fluoroalkylated rod-like polysilanes as ultrasensitive chemosensors

Noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, and π-π stacking, are increasingly being utilized to develop well-ordered and self-organized supramolecular materials. Recently, new types of nonclassical weak interactions, such as C H···π, C H···F C, and C H···O, have been exploited in stabilizing the specific conformations of molecules and molecular assemblies in the solid state. These noncovalent interactions play an important role in materials comprised of polymer chains, because cooperative effects from a large number of weak interactions can lead to drastic changes in its conformation, several properties, and functionalities. The programmed design of synthetic helical polymer with well-defined molecular conformation has been the main subject in modern polymer science and engineering. Silicon-catenated polysilane is an ideal helical silicon quantum wire and polymers with unique photophysical properties. The present review highlights the spectroscopic evidences for through-space weak Si···F C interaction in poly(methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsilane) ( 1 ) in noncoordinating and coordinating solvents by means of NMR (²⁹Si and ¹⁹F) and IR spectroscopies, and viscometric measurement. It was found that 1 is applicable for chemosensors with an extremely high sensitivity and selectivity toward fluoride ions in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and with high sensitivity for nitroaromatic compounds, detected by a decrease in the photoluminescence intensity in THF and in thin solid film. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5060–5075, 2006     

Electroreductive polymerization of phenylmethyldichlorosilane in a divided cell using a neutral membrane

Electrochemical formation of poly(phenylmethylsilane) in a divided cell containing a Teflon® neutral membrane was studied. The electrolysis of dichlorosilanes was carried out in a solution containing tetrahydrofuran + hexamethylphosphoramide as the solvent, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as the support electrolyte and stainless steel as the cathode, with Pt and graphite as the resistant anodes or stainless steel as the sacrificial anode. Polysilanes with a number-average molecular weight in the range from 2,600 to 130,000 g/mol were obtained, depending on the conditions used.     

Synthesis and characterization of functional polysilanes [RMe2Si(CH2)x(Me)Si]n (R = 2‐Fu, 5‐Me‐2‐Fu, 2‐Th, 4‐Me‐2‐Th; x = 2, 3) with appended furyl/thienyl groups on the carbosilyl side chains and their application in the generation and stabilization of palladium nanoparticles

The polysilanes [RMe₂Si(CH₂)_x(Me)Si]_n [x = 2, 3; R = 2‐Fu ( 1, 2 ), 5‐Me‐2‐Fu ( 3, 4 )] bearing furyl‐substituted carbosilyl side chains have been synthesized by dehalocondensation reaction (Wurtz coupling) of the corresponding carbosilanes using sodium dispersion in refluxing toluene. On the other hand, analogous polysilanes with appended thienyl groups [x = 2, 3; R = 2‐Th ( 5, 6 ), 4‐Me‐2‐Th ( 7, 8 )] are only accessible by the reaction of the corresponding carbosilane precursors under mild Wurtz coupling conditions (THF, RT). These polysilanes reveal monomodal molecular weight distribution with M_w/PDI = 3.3–5.4 × 10⁴/1.22–1.47 ( 1–4 ) and 9.1–14.4 × 10⁴/1.45–1.61 ( 5–8 ) and are characterized by FT‐IR, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ²⁹Si{¹H}) NMR, and UV/PL spectral studies as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Preliminary studies on the reactivity of polysilane 2 with palladium acetate (toluene, RT) reveal the formation of spherical palladium nanoparticles of size 8.2 ± 0.6 nm, which remain stable in solution for several weeks. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7816–7826, 2008     

Delaminated zeolite‐catalysed synthesis of high‐molecular weight polycarbosilane as a low shrinkage SiC precursor

A polycarbosilane (PCS) with a higher number–average molecular weight (2710 vs. 1570), and hence with a higher ceramic yield (74 vs. 68%), compared to a commercial Nipusi type S PCS has been synthesized via the catalytic decomposition of polydimethylsilane at 400 °C using H‐ITQ‐2, a delaminated zeolite with a very high external surface area, as a solid acid. The silicon carbide film fabricated using this PCS was found to show a much lower level (16 vs. 39%) of shrinkage than the commercial PCS‐derived film, together with better mechanical properties, suggesting the potential of its preceramic polymer to produce robust ceramic coatings. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 725–732, 2008     

Blue electroluminescence from 3,6‐silafluorene‐based copolymers

Poly(3,6‐silafluorene) is a typical wide band‐gap conjugated polymer with ultraviolet light emission. The blue electroluminescence from the 3,6‐silafluorene‐based copolymers via intrachain energy transfer was reported in this study. The monomer containing vinylene, anthracene, and tri‐arylamine moieties incorporated into the poly(3,6‐silafluorene) backbone can form efficient deep‐blue emitting copolymers with EL efficiency of 1.1–1.9%. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3286–3295, 2009     

Direct patterning of polysilanes and polygermanes using interference lithography

The direct patterning of poly(p‐methoxyphenylmethylsilane) (PMPMS) and poly(p‐methoxyphenylmethylgermane) (PMPMG) by interference lithography is reported. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanism and characterization of alkylene‐ and p‐ethylenebenzylene‐spaced polycarbosilanes ceramic precursor synthesized by electropolymerization

An electropolymerization of haloalkylhalosilanes (Cl? R? SiCH₃Cl₂) that possess two types of electroactive sites, that is, the C? Cl and Si? Cl bond is described. The one‐pot synthesis method is shown to yield branched polycarbosilanes having a regular carbon block‐spaced silicon backbone structure. A series of branched polycarbosilanes, [? R? SiCH₃? ]_n with R being ? CH₂? , ? C₂H₄? , ? C₃H₆? , and ? CH₂? C₆H₄? C₂H₄? , have been successfully electropolymerized with M_n up to 42,600 Dalton. Experimental and simulation cyclic voltammetry of these monomers and the computational examination of their LUMOs are applied to study the electropolymerization mechanism. The results suggest that polymerization proceeds by iterating steps involving (1) electroreduction of a C? Cl bond to a carbanion, which is catalyzed by silylanion radical [Cl SiCl(CH₃)RCl] and/or Ni(0)/TDA‐1; and (2) nucleophilic attack of carbanions to Si? Cl bonds of a second monomer or oligomer to extend the polymer chain. The investigation reveals that the R spacer has a considerable impact on the polymerizability of the corresponding monomer. Such interfacial polymerization resembles a template polymerization, leading to unique microstructures that were preserved even after converted to silicon carbide ceramics at high temperatures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7677–7689, 2008     

Cationic Si−H−Si Bridges in Polysilanes: Their Detection and Targeted Formation in Stable Ion Studies

The ionization of 1,1‐dihydridocyclopentasilane 7 has been found to yield the cyclic polysilanylsilyl cation 8 instead of the expected hydrogen‐substituted silylium ion 6 . The silyl cation 8 is stabilized by the formation of an intramolecular Si?H?Si bridge, which also provides the thermodynamic driving force for its formation. In general, the preference for the formation of Si?H?Si bridges can be used to scavenge and identify transient intermediates in the Lewis acid induced rearrangement of polysilanes. The validity of this concept has been demonstrated for one central step in this chemistry, the ring‐contraction reaction of cyclohexasilanes to form silylcyclopentasilanes.