title: Organocatalytic living ring-opening polymerization of cyclic carbosiloxanes.
abstract: [reaction: see text] An organocatalytic route to narrowly dispersed poly(carbosiloxanes) of predictable molecular weight and end group fidelity is described. N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) and 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) catalyze the ring opening of cyclic carbosiloxanes. The pK(b) of the catalyst is important in preventing adverse transetherification reactions and obtaining well-defined polymers. Mechanistic studies indicate that hydrogen bonding to TBD or the NHC activates alcohols or silanols for ring-opening reactions.
authors.affiliation: IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose California 95123, USA.
authors.forename: Bas G G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Lohmeijer
authors.forename: Geraud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leibfarth
authors.forename: Russell C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nederberg
authors.forename: Alshakim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Waymouth
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hedrick