Synthesis and photopolymerization of propenyl ether and epoxy functionalized siloxanes

Abstract The reactive precursors, 1-allyloxy-4(1-propenoxy)butane and allyl-epoxy-ester, were synthesized. The synthesis of propenyl ether and epoxy functionalized siloxanes has been achieved by the controlled, rhodium-catalyzed, chemoselective hydrosilation of allyl ether with various H-functional siloxanes. It was shown that the hydrosilation proceeds exclusively at the allyl ether group of allyloxy-propenoxybutane without participation at the propenyl ether group. The photoinduced cationic polymerization of these monomers was studied and found to be all highly reactive.