Linear, branched and network polysilanes with thienyl/furyl substituted sila-alkyl side chains and their applications for the synthesis of fluorescent silver nanoparticles/clusters

Abstract

The scope of Wurtz coupling and catalytic dehydrocoupling methods for the synthesis of functional polysilanes of compositions, [RR'Si]n (linear), [(PhMeSi)x-co-(RSi)1 - x]n (branched) and [RSi]n (network) [R = Et3SiCH2CH 2, 2-Fu/2-ThMe2SiCH2CH2 (Fu = Furyl, Th = Thienyl), n-Hex or Ph; R' = H or Me] is presented. By virtue of σ-delocalized silicon backbone and variable HOMO-LUMO band gap energies, these polymers are found to be promising candidates as reducing agents for Ag(I) ions in toluene/cyclo-hexane and provide a simple approach for 'size-controlled' synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as well as fluorescent polymer-silver nanocomposites. © 2012 Indian Academy of Sciences.