Electroreductive polymerization of phenylmethyldichlorosilane in a divided cell using a neutral membrane

Abstract

Electrochemical formation of poly(phenylmethylsilane) in a divided cell containing a Teflon R neutral membrane was studied. The electrolysis of dichlorosilanes was carried out in a solution containing tetrahydrofuran + hexamethylphosphoramide as the solvent, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as the support electrolyte and stainless steel as the cathode, with Pt and graphite as the resistant anodes or stainless steel as the sacrificial anode. Polysilanes with a number-average molecular weight in the range from 2,600 to 130,000 g/mol were obtained, depending on the conditions used.