Synthesis of silylene–propenylene oligomers via catalytic polycondensation of diallyldiorganosilanes

Acyclic diene polycondensation (ADP) of diallyldiorganosilanes (CH₂CHCH₂)₂SiR₂ (where R = Me, Ph), in the presence of various ruthenium and rhodium complexes, led predominantly to linear silylene–propenylene oligomers. Ruthenium catalysts (e.g. RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃, and RuCl(SiMe₃)(CO)(PPh₃)₂) were found to be more efficient than the rhodium ones. The reaction proceeds via preliminary catalytic isomerization of allylsilane to silyl-1-propenes followed by their oligococondensation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3299–3304, 1997