Synthesis and characterization of poly(1-sila-cis-pent-3-enes) substituted with pendant pyridinyl groups

Poly1-methyl-1-3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl]-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene], poly1-phenyl-1-3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl)-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene], and poly1-phenyl-1-(4-pyridinyl)-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene] were synthesized by the anionic ring-opening polymerization of 1-methyl-1-3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl]-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, 1-phenyl-1-3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl]-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, and 1-phenyl-1-(4-pyridinyl)-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, respectively. These are the first polycarbosilanes which contain heterocyclic pyridine units as side-chain substituents. These polymers were characterized by¹H,¹³C, and²⁹Si NMR as well as by IR and UV spectroscopy. The molecular weight distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography, glass transition temperatures, by differential seanning calorimetry: (DSC) and thermal behavior, by thermogravimetric analysis. (TGA).