SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA,OMEGA-ARYLAMINE FUNCTIONALIZED POLY(DIMETHYLSILOXANE)S

This research has focused on the development of telechelic, aromatic a mine functional, poly (dimethylsiloxane) oligomers without any aliphat ic components in the polymer back-bone. The intent is to produce flexi ble oligomers with enhanced thermal stability for incorporation into m aterials which will be processed at elevated temperatures. The poly (d imethylsiloxane)s have been synthesized using living polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with protected aniline derivatives as init iators and termination reagents for the reactions. Low molecular weigh t oligomers prepared using the living polymerization method can be eas ily converted to a range of higher, controlled molecular weight materi als in redistribution reactions. A basic tetramethylammonium siloxanol ate catalyst in conjunction with octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane has been used for the equilibration procedure.