Synthesis of OH-functionalized poly(p-xylylene)s by reductive coupling polymerization of aromatic dialdehydes with stoichiometric amounts of divalent samarium compounds

Abstract

Reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl compounds in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of Sm(II) compounds such as SmI₂, SmI₂/TMSiCl, SmBr₂, Sm/TMSiBr, SmCp₂ resulted in hydrobenzoin derivatives. OH-functionalized poly(p-xylylene)s (OH-PPX) were obtained by reductive coupling of aromatic dialdehydes. The usage of solubilizing groups as well as the use of trimethylsilylchloride (TMSiCl) and trimethylsilylbromide (TMSiBr) enhanced the polymerizability of monomers under study. In spite of moderate yields high molecular weight polymers were obtained.