Hydrosilylation reactions of 1,3-diynes and bis(silyl hydrides): Model studies and polymerizations

The first examples of polymers made from the bis-hydrosilylation reaction of 1,3-diynes and bis-silylhydrides are reported. These polymers exhibit modest molecular weights and possess a cis,cis-2,3-disubstituted-1,3-butadiene structure as determined NMR analysis of model compounds. SEC and MALDI analysis of reaction mixtures suggest that cyclic dimers and higher order oligomers are also formed. Model reactions indicate that very sterically hindered diynes or silyl hydrides give only the 1,3-eneyne mono-addition products.