The use of silanols as initiators for the ROP of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane in ammonia – from linear functional polymers to silicones of complex structure

Abstract

In this work, we propose an approach for obtaining polydimethylsiloxanes of various structures, both linear and branched, by a ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane initiated by silanols in liquid ammonia. In this case, ammonia acts both as a solvent and as a catalyst. Such hydroxy-containing compounds as Ph₃SiOH, Ph₂Si(OH)₂, PhSi(OH)₃ and cis-[PhSi(O)OH]₄ are used as initiators.