Regioselective hydrosilations. III. The synthesis and polymerization of ambifunctional silicon‐containing epoxy monomers

Silicon‐containing epoxide compounds bearing Si  H groups can be readily prepared in high yields by the regioselective rhodium‐catalyzed monohydrosilation of α,ω‐dihydrogen functional siloxanes and silanes with vinyl epoxides. The remaining Si  H groups in these compounds can be further selectively hydrosilated with unsaturated epoxides to give a series of unique ambifunctional monomers containing two different epoxide groups in the same molecule. The photopolymerization of these monomers has been studied using analytical techniques including real time infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning photocalorimetry. On photopolymerization, the new monomers yield interesting networks.