Si-H functional polysilanes via a homogeneous reductive coupling reaction

A polysilane copolymer with reactive Si-H side groups was obtained through a homogeneous coupling reaction of dichlorodiphenylsilane with dichloro-met hylsilane. The reaction was carried out in a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of a sodium-potassium alloy complex with 18-crown-6 with a well defined co mposition of alkali metal ion pairs (Mt(+)/crown ether, Mt(-)) at -75 degre esC. The product was characterized using H-1 NMR,C-13 NMR, FT-IR and UV/Vis ible spectroscopies and gel permeation chromatography. The results were com pared with those obtained by the heterogeneous coupling reaction of the sam e monomers.