Silane-induced polymerization of vinyl ethers and cyclic ethers catalyzed by a triruthenium carbonyl cluster, (Ace)Ru3(CO)7.

Scheme 1

As shown on our Home Page (see this page), (Ace)Ru3(CO)7 effectively activates the Si-H bond. Therefore, we expanded this Si-H activation reaction to silane-induced polymerization of cyclic ethers and vinyl ethers via multiple insertions, which are triggered by hydrosililation (Scheme 1). Interestingly, the obtained polymer apparently contains silyl substituents as the terminal groups, which can be easily modified. Studies on modifying the terminal groups and developing functional polymers are currently under way.