Synthesis of block copolymers of methyl siloxane, phenyl siloxane, vinyl siloxane, etc

Synthesis of homo poly(dimethylsiloxane) PDMS, homo poly(diphenylsiloxane PDPS, and di- and tri- block copolymers of PDMS and PDPS have been carried out by anionic living polymerization, using the following reagents: hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, HMTS and hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane, HPTS (monomers), n-BuLi and dilithium diphenyldisilanolate, DLS (initiators), DMSO and THF (promoters) and Toluene (solvent). Lithium based catalysts are used in order to minimize siloxane rearrangement (equilibration) reactions