Intrinsically proton-conducting benzimidazole units tethered to polysiloxanes
Polysiloxanes with pendant benzimidazole units have been prepared by free radical thiolene coupling reactions of 2-(2-benzimidazolyl)ethanethiol and vinyl-functional polysiloxanes. The latter polymers were prepared by anionic ring opening copolymerization of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetravinylcyclosiloxane and 1,3,5-hexamethyleyclosiloxane. Copolymers with different degrees of benzimidazole fun