Synthesis of Ladder Silsesquioxanes by in situ Polycondensation of Cyclic Tetravinylsiloxanetetraols

Abstract

Functionalized tetrahydroxy-cyclotetrasiloxanes are very attractive precursors of tetrasiloxane ring systems in linear silsesquioxanes (LPSQs). Vinyl groups are especially important since they can be employed for various chemical transformations (e.g. hydrosilylation, metathesis reactions, thiol-ene addition). However, isolation of such highly reactive species bearing small side substituents at silicon atoms with high yield is challenging. We overcame the problem by in situ condensation of 2,4,6,8-tetrahydroxy-2,4,6,8-tetravinyl-cyclotetrasiloxanes, derived from potassium organosiloxanolate {(K+)4[ViSi(O)O−] 4} nL (L = EtOH, H2O). Oligomeric LPSQ materials having a siloxane backbone with ladder structure and functionalized with side vinyl groups were thus prepared. Hexamethyldisilazane was employed for chain termination. The liquid materials show remarkably good solubility in organic solvents. They were isolated and characterized using spectroscopic methods. Information on their structure and molecular masses was derived from MALDI-TOF and MALLS measurements. Size exclusion chromatography (RI detection, volume of elution measurements) was also used. The products were characterized by wide-angle X-Ray diffraction measurements (WAXS) and their thermal characteristics (TGA and DSC) were obtained.