Organosilicon Polymers: From New Structures towards New Properties

Dear Colleague,

Organosilicon polymers, confidently standing on the basis of the endless supply of silica and renewable organics, maintain sustainable growth over a long time. This is primarily due to the complexity of the unique properties inherent in polydimethylsiloxane and the huge variety of its forms. In recent decades, considerable progress has been achieved in the creation of organosilicon polymers of a well-defined structure thanks to the development of new synthetic methods based on the unique properties of organosilicon reagents, catalytic systems, and amazing reactions.

A separate area in the structural diversity of organosilicon polymers belongs to polyorganosilsesquioxanes. Numerous hyperbranched structures and nanogels have made it possible to open up the walls of the sol-gel synthesis “black box” and to obtain a whole series of new molecular nanofluids and nanoscale fillers with the properties controlled in the coordinates of a macromolecule-particle, i.e., slow and gradual transformation of the hyperbranched macromolecule into a colloidal particle. Another variation of a similar process has obtained light and transparent aerogels, demonstrating substantial flexibility. The ongoing development of the chemistry of ladder polyphenylsilsesquioxanes is also worth mentioning.

The potential of silicone polymers to produce hybrid organoelement structures has also increased. Entire sets of linear, branched, polycyclic, and dendritic carborane-containing polysiloxanes are nothing more than prefabricated building blocks for new hybrid molecular composites. In addition to the unique stereoregular metallosiloxane scaffolds, numerous types of branched functional metallosiloxane oligomers were synthesized that demonstrate remarkable progress in regulating properties of their interpenetrating networks with liquid silicone resins.

Despite the fact that organosilicon polymers later moved to the sufficient level of controlling properties by controlling the structure, the unique possibilities of combining silicone and organofunctional reagents have not only allowed organosilicon polymers to catch up, but also to take a leading position in a number of development areas.

In this Special Issue, we will present a snapshot of this rapidly developing field to inspire scientists working in this and related areas and to draw attention to new unique opportunities for cooperation in this fascinating field.

Dr. Aziz Mansurovich Muzafarov
Guest Editor

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