Pd-catalyzed hydrosilylation polymerization of a dihydrosilane with diyne/triyne mixed systems affording crosslinked silylene–divinylene polymers and their properties

Treatment of a dihydrosilane (methylphenylsilane, 1) with mixtures of a diyne (p- or m-diethynylbenzene, 2a or 2b) and a triyne (1,3,5-triethynylbenzene, 3a or B,B′,B″-triethynyl-N,N′,N″-trimethylborazine, 3b; 1:2:3=100:95:5, 100:90:10, 100:80:20) in the presence of Pd–PCy3 (Cy=cyclohexyl) catalyst gave new crosslinked silylenedivinylene polycarbosilanes. In TGA the resulting crosslinked polymers tended to show higher Td5 values and higher char yields than the corresponding linear polymers. On the other hand, UV/vis absorption spectra of the crosslinked polymers obtained in the reactions of 2a or 2b with 3a exhibited increased broad peaks around 390 nm for 2a or 360 nm for 2b. Coincidently, their fluorescence spectra showed significant increase of the emission peaks in 400–550 nm. The crosslinked polymer derived from 2a and 3b, however, showed decrease of the absorption peak around 390 nm and profound depression of fluorescence peaks in 400–550 nm.