Preparation and thermal properties of asymmetrically substituted poly(silylenemethylene)s

Poly(silylenemethylene)s of the types SiMeRCH₂]_n and SiHRCH₂]_n were prepared by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of 1,3-disilacyclobutanes (DSCBs) containing n-alkyl substituents, such as C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, n-C₅H₁₁, and n-C₆H₁₃, or a phenyl group on the Si. These new polymers include a monosilicon analog of poly(styrene), SiHPhCH₂]_n. Improved synthesis routes to the DSCB monomers were developed which proceed through Grignard ring closure reactions on alkoxy-substituted chlorocarbosilanes. All of these asymmetrically substituted polymers were obtained in high molecular weight form, except for SiHPhCH₂]_n. The configurations of all of the polymers were found to be atactic. The aryl-substituted polymers have higher glass transition temperatures (T_gs) and thermal stability than those of the alkyl-substituted poly(silylenemethylene)s. Unlike the polyolefins of the type C(H)(R)CH₂]_n, where T_g drops continuously from R = Me to n-Hex, the T_gs of the n-C_nH_2n+1 (n = 2–6)-substituted SiMeRCH₂]_n PSM's appear to reach a maximum (at −61°C) for the R = n-Pr-substituted polymer. Moreover, where it was possible to make direct comparisons among similarly substituted atactic polymers, all of the poly(silylenemethylene)s were found to have lower T_gs than their all-carbon analogs. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3193–3205, 1997