Preparation of polycarbosilanes and polysilanes from (trimethylsilylmethyl)chlorosilanes

The one-step conversion of (Me₃SiCH₂)SiCl₃ to polycarbosilanes by reaction with three molar equivalents of the alkali metals lithium, sodium, or sodium potassium alloy is reported. The expected network polysilanes were not isolated. Under similar conditions (Me₃SiCH₂)SiHCl₂ gives polysilanes. The low molecular weight polymers have been characterized by elemental analyses, gpc, and FT-IR, NMR, UV-vis, and mass spectroscopies.Presented in part at the XXVIth Silicon Symposium, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, March 26–27, 1993.