A novel synthetic approach to poly(hydrosiloxane)s via hydrolytic oxidation of primary organosilanes with a AuNPs-stabilized Pickering interfacial catalyst

Abstract

The triblock copolymer, PiBA₂₀-b-PDMS₇₅-b-PiBA₂₀ (PiBA = polyisobornylacrylate, PDMS = polydimethylsiloxane), 1 is employed as an amphiphilic scaffold for surface functionalization of AuNPs of 10–15 nm size in chloroform. In water–chloroform biphasic medium, the AuNPs form a randomly close packed assembly at the interface and remain stable for several months under ambient conditions. The interfacially stabilized AuNPs act as a selective and recyclable catalyst for the hydrolytic oxidation of primary organosilanes, RSiH₃ and offer a promising route for high yield synthesis of poly(alkyl/arylhydrosiloxane)s H₂RSiO[RHSiO]_nSiRH₂, 2–6 [R = Ph (2), n-hexyl (3), cyclo-hexyl (4), Et₃SiCH₂CH₂ (5), PhMe₂SiCH₂CH₂ (6)].