Organic-inorganic polymer hybrids using octasilsesquioxanes with hydroxyl groups

Summary Polymer hybrids were prepared by three kinds of octasilsesquioxanes having hydroxyl groups and organic polymers such as poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (POZO), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), and poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAAm) using hydrogen bonding interaction. The obtained homogeneous and transparent hybrid films could be dissolved in solvents and cast again without any separation. It was found that the high homogeneity of polymer hybrids was the result of hydrogen bonding interaction between octasilsesquioxanes and organic polymers from the carbonyl stretching shifts in IR measurement. Also, the influence of flexibility of eight arms bound to silica-like core on the homogeneity of polymer hybrids was examined. Received: 8 May 2001/Accepted: 24 May 2001