Zinc-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation Copolymerization of Aromatic Dialdehydes with Diphenylsilane.

The hydrosilylation reaction of diphenylsilane and phthalaldehyde is catalyzed by heteroscorpionate zinc hydride complex LZnH (1, L = (Me Pz)2 CP(Ph)2 NPh, Me Pz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl). Both terephthalaldehyde (tPAA) and isophthalaldehyde (iPAA) affords linear polymer; however, when PAA is used, a seven-membered cyclic silyl ether is formed. These products are characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra. Other properties of polymers are determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC)-multiangle laser-light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry.