Self-organizing cyclolinear methylcyclohexasiloxane polymers carrying reactive vinyl groups

Atactic cyclolinear organosilicon polymers containing vinyl substituents in RSiO_1.5, R₂SiO or both moieties have been synthesized through the heterofunctional polycondensation of trans,cis-2,8-dihydroxymethyl(vinyl)cyclohexasiloxanes with 2,8-dichloromethyl(vinyl)cyclohexasiloxanes. The structure of the polymers has been studied by ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR and IR spectroscopy, molecular mass measurements, and elemental analysis. The phase behavior of these copolymers in the bulk has been examined by DSC, X-ray diffraction, and polarization optical microscopy. It has been shown that the copolymer can exist in the mesomorphic state in the temperature range from ?100 to +200°C. The X-ray data indicate changes in the interlayer spacing and the type of packing of cyclolinear poly(methylvinylsiloxanes) with an increase in the content of vinyl substituents in the repeating units of the polymer. The ability of cyclolinear poly(methylvinylsiloxanes) to spread over the water/air interface and to form mono-and multilayers has been investigated. As the content of vinyl substituents in the polymer unit is increased to two or four, the ability of polymers to form multilayers is preserved. The incorporation of vinyl substituents into RSiO_1.5 or R₂SiO moieties of polymer units is accompanied by the formation of monolayers.