Facile route to synthesis of functionalised poly(methylalkoxy)siloxane under mild and aerobic conditions in the presence of platinum catalysts

A facile and high yield method of synthesis of novel and functional poly(methylalkoxy) siloxanes is reported. The Si-H groups of poly(methylhydrogen) siloxanes (PMHS) were treated with various simple (primary, secondary, tertiary) alcohols (1a-10a) in the presence of platinum based catalysts (Speier's and Karstedt's catalysts). Also oxyethylene, aldehyde, epoxide, halogen and allyl grafted polysiloxane were smoothly and quantitatively prepared by the alcoholysis between linear siloxanes polymer and functional alcohols (11a-20a) with use of Karstedt's catalysts. It is found that alcoholysis reaction in the presence of the Karstedt's catalyst proceed faster than Speier's catalyst. In addition, the rate of alcoholysis reaction is dependent on amount of the catalyst and reaction temperature. The polymers prepared were characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy and GPC analysis. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.