ArF laser irradiation into gaseous trimethyl(propynyloxy)silane, trimethyl(
ethenoxy)silane and trimethyl(ethynyl)silane results in chemical vapour dep
osition of thin films of solid organosilicon polymers. UV excitation of the
two former compounds leads to polymerization at the triple bond as a major
process to yield, respectively, saturated poly(trimethylsilyloxyhydrocarbo
n) and poly(trimethylsilylhydrocarbon), whereas that of the latter compound
is controlled by cleavage reactions to afford poly(methylsiloxane). The pr
ocesses represent a unique photopolymerization in the absence of photoiniti
ators. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.