Siloxanolate equilibration catalyst preparation

Siloxanolate Catalysts. The initial step for the study of the kinetics of base-catalyzed siloxane equilibration reactions was the preparation of a number of well-defined siloxanolate catalysts. The catalysts were prepared separately, prior to the equilibration reactions, so that a homogeneous moisture-free system with a known concentration of active centers might be obtained. The catalysts studied included potassium, tetramethylammonium, and tetrabutylphosphonium siloxanolate. 

The reaction scheme for the preparation of aminopropyl-terminated di-fimctionalized oligomers is illustrated in Scheme II. The reaction proceeds by the anionic equilibration of the cyclic siloxane tetramer, D4, in the presence of l,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane. The equilibration process begins immediately upon addition of the siloxanolate catalyst, and samples were removed as a function of time for the purpose of the kinetic study. 

Significant differences were observed in the rate of incorporation of D4 and l,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)disiloxane for similar concentrations of potassium, tet-ramethylammonium, and tetrabutylphosphonium siloxanolate catalysts. The rate differences affected the reaction times that were required to obtain a completely equilibrated reaction mixture with the desired molecular weight. The potassium catalyst required excessively long reaction times or high concentrations before sufficient incorporation of the aminopropyldisiloxane was realized. The tetramethylammonium and tetrabutylphosphonium catalysts were much more efficient for the preparation of controlled-molecular-weight aminopropyl-terminated polysiloxane oligomers. 

Transient siloxanolate anionic catalysts prepared by reacting four moles of D-4 with one of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide at 80 C are effective for equilibrating "neutral" systems such as the epoxy ( ), "basic" dimethyl-amino (64) or aminopropyl (59,67) end-blockers and D-4. With "acidic" functionality on the end-blocker, we have successfully utilized trifluoroacetic acid for the equilibrations. Further details of the oligomer synthesis and their utilization in segmented copol)nners will be described in future publications. 

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