N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed dehydration of α,ω-disilanol oligomers

An efficient polycondensation reaction of α,ω-dihydroxy oligodimethylsiloxanes, catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), is developed for the first time. Surprisingly, in this polymerization, the moisture sensitive NHC catalyze the dehydration of disilanol oligomers, and remains intact. This result demonstrates the compatibility of NHCs with the intervention of H2O in catalytic reactions.