Organotrialkoxysilanes: Silane Coupling Agents

We are developing a variety of coupling agents with protected functionalities on the organic group. The reactive groups are needed to help form covalent bonds with the organic phase in a composite. However, many electrophilic groups such as maleimides (above) and isocyanates are too reactive to survive the aqueous process conditions. In some cases, it is advantageous to prevent a reactive group from reacting until the proper time in a process is reached. Maleimide-functionalized silane have not been because of the reactivity of the electrophilic group to Michael addition and free radical polymerization. Protected as a Diels Alder adduct, the maleimide can be carried through aqueous processing and be subsequently liberated to couple with an organic polymer by heating to 100 °C.

Shaltout, R. M.; Loy, D. A.; Wheeler, D. R. Maleimide functionalized siloxane resins. Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. (1999), 576(Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials II), 15-20.

Contact: Doug Loy