Chemical Modification of Polysilanes

For poly silanes made by Wurtz reaction, the presence of functional groups in polysilane polymers is limited by the vigorous conditions of the sodium condensation reaction. Any substituents that react with molten sodium metal must therefore be introduced after the polymer is synthesized. Halogen atoms can be introduced into alkenylpolysilanes by HBr or HC1 addition reactions, as shown for the 3-cyclohexenyl-ethyl polymers in equation (21).37 Chlorine atoms have also been introduced into arylpolysilanes by chloromethylation, in which -CH2C1 groups are substituted onto phenyl rings in the polymer.38 

Polysilanes have also been modified by removal of aryl groups under acidic conditions, to give Si-functional polymers. Phenyl or other aryl groups on silicon can be selectively replaced by halogens, upon treatment with a hydrogen halide and a Lewis acid. 

Polyphenylsilane, (PhSiH) , can be derivatized by free-radical hydrosilylation in the presence of a radical initiator. Alkenes, ketones and aldehydes react readily, to replace up to 93% of the Si-H bonds. This route can be employed to make polysilanes with hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxy, amino and carboxylic acid functions.43 Dialkylamino substituted polysilanes, made by the anionic polymerization of masked disilenes (see equation (17)), when treated with acetyl chloride give chloro-substituted poly silanes. The chlorine can then be displaced by other nucleophiles.27 

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