HYPERBRANCHED POLYCARBOSILANE MACROMONOMERS BEARING OXAZOLINE FUNCTIONALITIES

Synthesis of hyperbranched polycarbosilanes by hydrosilylation of tria llylsilane is reported. Soluble high molecular weight polymer was obta ined in an uncontrolled bulk reaction. Addition of 2-(10-decen-1-yl)-1 ,3-oxazoline (i) afforded control over degree of polymerization (DP) a nd (ii) resulted in hyperbranched macromonomers. 17000 greater than or equal to<(M)over bar (w)>greater than or equal to 800 (GPC (PS)) was obtained. Si-29 NMR spectroscopy allowed identification of dendritic, branched, linear, and terminal silicon branch-points. A modified defin ition for the degree of branching yielded a value of 0.48 +/- 0.05 (th eory: 0.44).