Systematic Investigation of Silicon Substitution on Single Macromolecule Mechanics

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01066
• Publication Date: 2023-08-18T14:56:25Z
• Authors: Kelsie E. Wentz; Yunxin Yao; Ilia Kevlishvili; Tatiana B. Kouzne...; Braden A. Mediavilla; Heather J. Kulik; Stephen L. Craig; Rebekka S. Klausen
• Keywords: Alkene; Diene

Four unsaturated poly(carbooligosilane)s (P1–P4) were prepared via acyclic diene metathesis polycondensation of new oligosilane monomers (1–4). These novel polymers with varying main-chain Si incorporation have high trans internal olefin stereochemistry (ca. 80%) and molecular weights (9500–21,700 g mol–1). Postpolymerization epoxidation converted all alkene moieties to epoxides rendered the (P5–P8) more electrophilic, which allowed for single-molecule force spectroscopy studies a modified atomic microscope setup silicon tip cantilever. The single-chain elasticity polycarbooligosilanes decreased increasing numbers Si–Si bonds, finding reproduced by quantum chemical calculations.