Silane-induced ring-opening polymerization of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-oxa-1,3-disilacyclopentane catalyzed by a triruthenium cluster

Abstract The silane-induced ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic siloxane, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-oxa-1,3-disilacyclopentane ( 2 ), is catalyzed by a ruthenium cluster, (μ 3 ,η 2 :η 3 :η 5 -acenapthylene)Ru 3 (CO) 7 ( 1 ), to give poly(tetramethylsilethylenesiloxane) with M n =6300–780,000 and M w / M n =1.5–3.0. The molecular weight of the polymer can be controlled by changing the concentration of the monomer solution. Addition of acetone results in formation of the polymer with M n =4400, spectroscopic analysis of which reveals existence of a siloxy and an isopropoxy moieties at the end group.