Poly(dimethylsilylene-co-diphenylsilylene)

In this work several polyorganosilylenes were synthesized including homo-and copolymers containing SiMe₂ and SiPh₂ units. A Wurtz-type coupling reaction of the respective dichlorodiorganosilanes with sodium metal, varying the Ph₂SiCl₂/Me₂SiCl₂ ratio was the chosen synthesis method. Products with different characteristics for solubility, structure (cyclic or linear), composition, and molecular weight distribution could be obtained depending on the comonomer ratios employed. The polysilane derivatives were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Valuable information related to the comonomers' reactivities was obtained, such as molecular weight distribution, composition, and relationships between yields of soluble, insoluble, and cyclic materials of each polycondensation reaction. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.