Organosilane polymers. II. Poly(ethylmethyl-co-dimethylsilylene) and poly(methylpropyl-co-dimethylsilylene)

Polydimethylsilylene is a largely crystalline, high-melting polymer that is soluble only above 200°C and does not thermoform below its decomposition temperature. Introduction of ethyl and propyl substituents into the linear silylene system by random copolymerization of dimethylsilylene with ethylmethyl- and methylpropylsilylenes leads to tractable polymers that are soluble in common solvents at normal ambient temperatures.