THE INCORPORATION OF TRANSITION-METALS INTO POLYHEDRAL OLIGOSILSESQUIOXANE POLYMERS

A new class of polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) copolymers has be en developed by incorporating into a polymer backbone the POSS disilan ol macromer, (c-C6H11)(8)Si8O11(OH)(2), along with a variety of inorga nic comonomers. These new inorganic cluster-based copolymers were synt hesized using a condensation polymerization approach, with formation o f metal-oxygen bonds and elimination of HCl (as RNEt(3)Cl) or CH4 driv ing the reaction. The polymers thus formed are isolated as amorphous p owders but do not display any observable glass transition; they decomp ose without melting at over 400 degrees C under nitrogen. Especially i nteresting is the formation of a zirconocene-bridged copolymer which i s stable to both air and methanol.