Preparation and properties of n⁶‐tricarbonylchromium‐complexed arylenesiloxane polymers

Polytetramethyl‐ p ‐silphenylenesiloxane (I) and polymethylphenylsiloxane (II) were prepared and subsequently reacted with hexacarbonylchromium to generate their n 6 ‐Cr(CO) 3 complexed analogs, III and IV, respectively. During the complexation reaction, completing decomposition to chromium salts took place. Furthermore a competing chain scission reaction took place resulting in lower molecular weights for the complexed polymers. Heating III and IV resulted in carbon monoxide evolution and the presence of n 6 ‐Cr(CO) 3 moieties lowered the thermal stability of the polymers.