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The polymerization of 1,1,3-trimethyl-1-silacyclopentene-3 (I), 1-methyl-, 1-allyl-1,1-diallyl-1-silacyclopentenes and -pentanes with aluminum chloride was carried out. By means of an IR spectroscopic analysis of the resulting polymers, it was established that not only ring opening but also vinyl polymerization due to the C–C double bond occur in this polymerization. Attempts to polymerize I with other catalysts, such as BF3·OEt2, AIBN, KOH, and a Ziegler catalyst, were unsuccessful.

Dichlorodiethoxysilane was treated with isoprene in the presence of magnesium in THF. It was found that new silacyclopentene derivatives i.e., 1,1-diethoxy-3-methyl-1-silacyclopentene-3(1), and 2,7-dimethyl-5-silaspiro[4.4]nonadiene-2,7(2), were produced in good yields, while sodium was used instead of magnesium in the reaction 2was obtained in a low yield.