Catalytic synthesis of silylene-vinylene preceramic polymers from ethynylsilanes

Catalytic hydrosilylation of diorganoethynylsilanes,R 2 HSiC≡CH, with H 2 PtCl 6 cleanly affords soluble poly(silylenevinylene)s, (R 2 SiCH=CH) n . Bulk pyrolysis of these polymers under an inert atmosphere at temperatures above 1100°C resulted in the formation of silicon carbide powders as characterized by X-ray diffraction spectra. Melt-spun fibers from these polymers were surface cross-linked and then thermally converted to SiC fibes with a dense surface microstructure