One-pot synthesis and characterization of a new, branched polycarbosilane bearing allyl groups

A highly branched polycarbosilane bearing allyl groups has been prepared by a one-pot synthesis with chloromethyltrichlorosilane, chloromethylmethyldichlorosilane and allyl chloride as the starting materials. The resultant polymer, with the approximate formula [SiH1.2(CH3)0.71(CH2CHCH2)0.09CH2]n, has been characterized by 1H, 13C, and 29Si NMR, GPC, TG and elemental analysis. It could be cross-linked thermally at 170 °C in the absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis of the polymer gave a ceramic with a yield of about 70%.