A Scalable Approach to Polar Polymers through Functionalization of Silane-Containing Polyolefins

The formation of polar polyolefins is a perennial goal in polymer synthesis. A variety of methods, most notably radical grafting, exist for the synthesis of such materials, which have proven to be highly desirable functional polymers. This report details an orthogonal strategy: solvent-free Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of SiH-bearing polyolefins. This process is amenable to twin screw extrusion, where it can be performed with Pt loadings as low as 3 ppm, and turnover numbers as high as 12,000. Importantly, this chemistry relies on readily available olefins, and can be used to incorporate ketones, phenols, silanes, epoxides, ethers, and tertiary amines, all with high conversion and minimal gelation.