Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of phenylene–disiloxane polymers obtained from catalytic cross‐dehydrocoupling polymerization of bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene isomers and water

Abstract Phenylene–disiloxane polymers were prepared from 1,4‐bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene and 1,3‐bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene with water in various ratios by catalytic cross‐dehydrocoupling polymerization. Each isomer showed almost equal reactivity in the polymerization as verified by the analysis of the composition by 1H NMR. Crystallinity observed in the polymer obtained from the 1,4‐isomer was removed by incorporating a small amount of 1,3‐isomer. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry