Process for the condensation of compounds having silicon bonded hydroxy or alkoxy groups

Abstract

The specification describes preparation of materials comprising selected boron anions and processes using them as catalysts for condensation reaction of compounds having silicon-bonded hydroxy or alkoxy groups. Preferred anion compounds comprise borates incorporating quadri-substituted boron in which the substituents include highly halogenated hydrocarbon groups for example pentafluorinated phenyl groups or bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl groups. Preferred anions are {B(C6F5)4}− and {B(C6(CF3)2H3)4}−. The specification describes condensation in presence of these materials of compounds having at least one unit according to the general formula RoaR1bR2cSiO(4−(a+b+c)/2) in which each Ro is the same or different and represents a hydroxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkoxy or hydrocarbonoxy group having up to 10 carbon atoms, each R1 is the same or different and represents hydrogen or a monovalent substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group, each R2 is the same or different and represents a divalent substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or oxyalkylene group, a has a value of 1, 2, 3 or 4, b has a value of 0, 1, 2 or 3 and c has a value of 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.