High refraction index polysiloxanes via organometallic routes - An overview

Abstract

Processes based on four organometallic routes leading to phenylethenyl substituted siloxanes are reviewed. Such materials, exhibiting high refraction indices, can be made by hydrosilylation of phenylacetylenes with Si-H moieties containing siloxane oligomers and polymers. On the other hand reactions between vinyl containing siloxanes with haloaryls or styrenes lead to the same systems via Heck or metathetic and silylative coupling. The effectiveness of the catalytic processes is analyzed from the point of view of side reactions, required catalyst concentration and reaction conditions. At the current state of knowledge the Heck coupling offers synthesis of the desired phenylethenyl substituted silicone fluids using technologically most attractive pathway. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.