A new series of organoboranes. VII. The preparation of poly‐<i>m</i>‐carboranylenesiloxanes

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes the preparation of the first members of a new series of polysiloxanes characterized by having m ‐carborane nuclei in the backbone of the polymers. Although neither hydrolysis of 1,7‐bis(chlorodialkylsilyl)‐ m ‐carborane monomers nor catalytic dehydration of the corresponding dihydroxy compounds would proceed to give the type of polysiloxanes desired, the polymers were readily prepared by the ferric chloridecatalyzed elimination of an alkyl halide from equimolar mixtures of dichloro‐ and dialkoxysilanes. This technique allowed the systematic introduction of dialkylsiloxy groups between m ‐carborane nuclei. Characterization of the polymers is described as well as differential scanning calorimetry studies which show the prime members of the series to be thermally stable to 500°C. and oxidatively stable to about 350°C.