| Abstract: | Investigations were undertaken to obtain information for use in the development of new heat-stable polymers. Model silicon-containing Schiff base and benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized by reaction of p-(triphenylsilyl)-benzaldehyde with phenylenediamines. The structure and thermal stability of the products were studied. The reaction of p-(triphenylsilyl)benzaldehyde and o-phenylenediamine yielded N-p-(triphenylsilyl)benzylidene-o-phenylenediamine which readily oxidizes to form 2-p-(triphenylsilyl)phenylbenzimidazole. The di-Schiff bases, which most probably exist in trans-trans configurations, were obtained from reaction of the aldehyde derivative with m- and p-phenylenediamine. In contrast to similar Schiff bases without silicon, the products are soluble in organic solvents. The good resistance of the di-Schiff base and benzimidazole derivatives to thermal decomposition suggests that polymers with repeating units of such structures would also be heat-stable and might possess useful properties. |
