Compositions comprising siloxane compounds and methods for using the same

A method for producing a cross-linked siloxane network, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first siloxane compound of Formula (X)
• wherein the variable n is selected from the group consisting of integers equal to or greater than 1;
• R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, and R19 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, substituted alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, substituted cycloalkyl groups, alkenyl groups, substituted alkenyl groups, cycloalkenyl groups, substituted cycloalkenyl groups, heterocyclyl groups, substituted heterocyclyl groups, aryl groups, substituted aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, substituted heteroaryl groups, and siloxy groups;
• at least one of R7 and R8 is different from each of R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, and at least one of R16 and R17 is different from each of R13, R14, R15, R18, and R19;
• (b) providing a first salt, the first salt comprising a conjugate base of a volatile organic acid, wherein the first salt is selected from the group consisting of tetramethylammonium formate, tetramethylammonium acetate, tetramethylammonium malonate, tetramethylammonium succinate, tetrabutylammonium formate, tetrabutylammonium acetate, tetrabutylammonium malonate, tetrabutylammonium succinate, tetrabutylphosphonium formate, tetrabutylphosphonium acetate, tetrabutylphosphonium malonate, tetrabutylphosphonium succinate, tetrabutylphosphonium bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof;
• (c) combining the first siloxane compound and the first salt to produce a reaction mixture;
• (d) heating the reaction mixture to a temperature sufficient for the first salt to open the ring of the cyclic siloxane moiety;
• and
• (e) maintaining the reaction mixture at an elevated temperature so that at least a portion of the opened cyclic siloxane moieties react with each other to produce a cross-linked siloxane network.