Polysiloxanes containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane groups in the side chains; synthesis and properties

Linear polysiloxanes having different amounts of polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) side groups were prepared from the hydrosilylation reaction of poly(ethylhydrosiloxane) with different amount of POSS and 1-octene using platinum(0)-divinyl tetramethyldisiloxane as a catayst. 1-Octene and platinum(0)-divinyl tetramethyldisiloxane were found to be very important for the preparation of the linear polymer without any cross-linked structures. The linear polysiloxanes with POSS side groups are soluble in various organic solvents. When the content of POSS-containing monomeric unit is larger than 10 mol%, free standing films can be prepared from a routine solution casting method, although this polysiloxane is not cross-linked.