Crosslinked polymers based on polyborosiloxanes: Synthesis and properties

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane-catalyzed Hydride Transfer Reactions in Polysiloxane Chemistry-Piers-Rubinsztajn Reaction and Related Processes

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) is a unique Lewis acid that catalyzes the condensation between hydrosilanes (Si-H) and alkoxysilanes (Si-OR), leading to the formation of siloxane bonds (Si-OSi) with the release of hydrocarbon (R-H) as a byproduct-the so-called Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction. The analogous reactions of hydrosilanes with silanols (Si-OH), alcohols (R-OH), ethers (R-OR') or water in the presence of TPFPB leads to the formation of a siloxane bond, alkoxysilane (Si-OR or Si-OR') or silanol (Si-OH), respectively. The above processes, often referred to as Piers-Rubinsztajn reactions, provide new synthetic tools for the controlled synthesis of siloxane materials under mild conditions with high yields. The common feature of these reactions is the TPFPB-mediated hydride transfer from silicon to carbon or hydrogen. This review presents a summary of 20 years of research efforts related to this field, with a focus on new synthetic methodologies leading to numerous previously difficult to synthesize well-defined siloxane oligomers, polymers and copolymers of a complex structure and potential applications of these new materials. In addition, the mechanistic aspects of the recently discovered reactions involving hydride transfer from silicon to silicon are discussed in more detail.

Synthesis of Core-Shell Polyborosiloxanes as a Heat-Resistant Platform

Herein, new polyborosiloxanes (PBSs) were prepared using a straightforward synthetic approach to obtain a core-shell structure as a material with various features such as better adhesion ability to the applied surface and enhanced thermal properties. In this concept, in situ core-shell formation was allowed by sequential addition of ingredients with fixed conversions. First, pre-condensed polysiloxane was synthesized, with a 60% conversion, as a core by the reaction of phenyltriethoxysilane in the presence of water in an acidic condition. Subsequent addition of boric acid into the pre-condensate and a further condensation reaction resulted in the formation of the shell layer through the introduction of the -Si-O-B- bonds to the network of the PBS. The resulting resin was used as a binder for heat-resistant paint in combination with an aluminum pigment, and the paint applied on a metal plate was found to be resistant up to 600 °C in terms of adhesion strength. It was also demonstrated that the incorporation of boron in the core-shell structure showed better adhesion strength than the one-pot preparation of PBS. Using this method, not only the heat resistance requirement of the industrial coating was achieved but also the flame-retardant ability was introduced.

Polyborosiloxanes (PBS): Evolution of Approaches to the Synthesis and the Prospects of Their Application

The mini-review deals with borosiloxanes as a class of organoelement compounds that comprise Si-O-B bonds, including individual compounds and polymeric structures. The borosiloxanes first synthesized in the 1950s using simple methods demonstrated very unusual properties but were hydrolytically unstable. However, in recent times, synthetic methods have changed significantly, which made it possible to synthesize borosiloxanes that are resistant to external factors, including atmospheric moisture. Borosiloxanes became important due to their unique properties. For example, borosiloxane liquids acquire a thixotropic behavior due to donor-acceptor interchain interactions. In addition, borosiloxanes are used to produce flame-retardant ceramics. An analysis of the literature sources shows that no review has yet been completed on the topic of borosiloxanes. Therefore, we decided that even a brief outlook of this area would be useful for researchers in this and related fields. Thus, the review shows the evolution of the synthesis methods and covers the studies on the properties of these unique molecules, the latest achievements in this field, and the prospects for their application.

The ultimate Lewis acid catalyst: using tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane to create bespoke siloxane architectures

The breadth of utility of a commercially available and stable strong Lewis acid catalyst, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, has been explored, highlighting its use towards a wide range of unique siloxane products and their corresponding applications. This article focuses on the variety of different outcomes that this impressive borane offers in controlled and selective manners by the variation of reaction conditions, precursor functionalities, reagent or catalyst loading, and the mechanistic considerations that contribute. With a predominant focus on the Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction and its modifications, tris(pentaflurophenyl)borane's utility is highlighted in the synthesis of linear, cyclic and macrocyclic siloxanes, aryl-/alkoxysiloxanes, and other bespoke products. The significance of the catalytic transformation within the field of siloxane chemistry is discussed alongside some of the challenges that arise from using the borane catalyst.

Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) and Catalytic Rearrangement as a Way to Obtain Siloxane Mono- and Telechelics, as Well as Well-Organized Branching Centers: History and Prospects

PDMS telechelics are important both in industry and in academic research. They are used both in the free state and as part of copolymers and cross-linked materials. At present, the most important, practically used, and well-studied method for the preparation of such PDMS is diorganosiloxane ring-opening polymerization (ROP) in the presence of nucleophilic or electrophilic initiators. In our brief review, we reviewed the current advances in the field of obtaining polydiorganosiloxane telechelics and monofunctional PDMS, as well as well-organized branching centers by the ROP mechanism and catalytic rearrangement, one of the first and most important reactions in the polymer chemistry of silicones, which remains so at the present time.

Use of Piers-Rubinsztajn Chemistry to Access Unique and Challenging Silicon Phthalocyanines

Axial functionalization is one mode that enables the solubility of silicon phthalocyanines (SiPcs). Our group observed that the use of typical axial functionalization methodologies on reaction of Cl₂SiPc with the chlorotriphenyl silane reagent unexpectedly resulted in the equal formation of triphenyl silyloxy silicon tetrabenzotriazacorrole ((3PS)-SiTbc) and the desired bis(tri-phenyl siloxy)-silicon phthalocyanine ((3PS)₂-SiPc). The formation of a (3PS)-SiTbc was unexpected, and the separation of (3PS)-SiTbc and (3PS)₂-SiPc was difficult. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the use of Piers-Rubinsztajn (PR) chemistry as an alternative method to functionalize the axial position of a SiPc to avoid the generation of a Tbc derivative. PR chemistry is a novel method to form a Si-O bond starting with a Si-H-based reactant and a -OH-based nucleophile enabled by tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane as a catalyst. The PR chemistry was screened on several fronts on how it can be applied to SiPcs. It was found that the process needs to be run in nitrobenzene at a molar ratio and at a particular temperature. To this end, the triphenylsiloxy derivative (3PS)₂-SiPc was produced and fully characterized, without the production of a Tbc derivative. In addition, we explored and outlined that the PR chemistry method can enable the formation of other SiPc derivatives that are inaccessible utilizing other established axial substitution chemistry methods such as (TM₃)₂-SiPc and (MDM)₂-SiPc. These additional materials were also physically characterized. The main conclusion is that the PR chemistry method can be applied to SiPcs and yield several alternative derivatives and has the potential to apply to additional macrocyclic compounds for unique derivative formation.

Effect of temperature on B(C6F5)3-catalysed reduction of germanium alkoxides by hydrosilanes - a new route to germanium nanoparticles

Reduction of Ge(OBu)4 with PhMe2SiH catalyzed by B(C6F5)3 at ambient temperature leads to GeH4. We discovered that a higher temperature (above 100 °C) completely changes the reaction course by producing germanium nanoparticles (Ge NPs) in high yield. This process provides a simple one-pot method for Ge NPs synthesis from readily available substrates under mild conditions.