Synthesis and thermal characterization of novel poly(tetramethyl-1,3-silphenylenesiloxane) derivative bearing adamantyl moiety

A novel poly(tetramethyl-1,3-silphenylenesiloxane) derivative having adamantyl moiety, i.e., poly(tetramethyl-5-adamantyl-1,3-silphenylenesiloxane) (P1) was synthesized by solution polycondensation of a novel disilanol monomer, i.e., 1-[3,5-(dimethylhydroxysilyl)phenyl]adamantane (M1). M1 was prepared by the Grignard reaction using chlorodimethylsilane and 1-(3,5-dibromophenyl)adamantane, followed by the hydrolysis catalyzed by 5% palladium on charcoal. P1 exhibited the good solubility in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, dichloromethane, benzene, and toluene at ambient temperature. P1 was also soluble in hot hexane, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and temperature at 5% weight loss (Td5) of P1 were 85 and 517 °C, respectively, and much higher than those of poly(tetramethyl-1,3-silphenylenesiloxane), indicating that P1 is a new polysiloxane derivative with good solubility as well as good thermostability.