Polysiloxanes with Periodically Distributed Isomeric Double-Decker Silsesquioxane in the Main Chain.

[(2-Methylpropyl)hydroxysilyl]-bridged double-decker silsesquioxane was synthesized, and its stereoisomers were obtained by fractional precipitation followed by silica gel column chromatography, and their structures were confirmed by 1H and 29Si NMR and single crystal X-RD. The pure cis, transand mix isomer were polymerized with silane-terminated octamethyltetrasiloxane via cross-dehydrocoupling polycondensation catalyzed by tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane to give completely alternating structure of the double decker silsesquioxane, and linear octamethyltetrasiloxane. All the polymers showed significantly increased glass transition temperature, compared with linear poly(dimethylsiloxane). Excellently transparent organo-soluble polymers gave self-supporting film by simple casting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]