Synthesis and stable high oxygen permeability of poly(diphenylacetylene)s with two or three trimethylsilyl groups

We synthesized two new poly(diphenylacetylene)s having two or three trimethylsilyl groups and found these membranes having extremely high oxygen permeabilities of more than 1000 barrers which are of the same order as that for poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne]. Whereas oxygen permeability of poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] was reported to decrease largely with time, these high oxygen permeabilities were stable for several months. These membranes also showed ethanol permselectivities because of their hydrophobicity. It was found that the introduction of two or three trimethylsilyl groups to poly(diphenylacetylene) was very effective for obtaining stable high oxygen permeable and ethanol permselective membranes.