Carborane-siloxane polymers synthesis

The synthesis of block polymers of diacetylene-silarylene and diacetylene-carboranylenesiloxane polymers (99a-e) (Fig. 61) by the polycondensation reaction of 1,4-dilithiobutadiyne with l,4-bis(dimethylchlorosilyl) benzene and/or l,7-bis(tetramethylchlorodisiloxane)-m-carborane have been reported by Sundar and Keller.129 These polymers are a hybrid between the carboranylenesiloxane and silarylene-siloxane polymers and have high char yields (up to 85%) at 1000°C in N2 and in air, reflecting the thermal stabilizing effects of the carborane and aromatic units in the polymeric backbone. 

The original FeCl3-catalyzed condensation reaction strategy has been exploited recently by Patel and co-workers for the synthesis of poly(m-carborane-siloxane) rubbers (103) (Fig. 63) in the reactions between dimethoxy-m-carborane terminated monomers and dichlorodimethylsilane.131 They have also synthesized similar polymers... 

After synthesis, the modified carborane-siloxane gums were fabricated into shaped components using standard siloxane vulcanization and fabrication technology. Di-chlorobenzyl peroxide (1% by wt) was used as the cross-linking agent and mixed into the polymer formed in scheme 7. Shaped rubber components were readily prepared by compression molding operations at 70°C. Postcure operations were typically at 120°C for 24 hours. 

The first class of polymers which will be discussed is not a true silarylene polymer, but is presented here because its synthesis has led to a number of the silarylenesiloxane polymers discussed previously. These polymers are known as poly(dodecacarborane-siloxanes), the study of which has been reviewed by Peters. The carborane molecule is very interesting and becomes an entire topic in and of itself. For the sake of completeness, the... 

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