Polyether Synthesis through Reductive Etherification Reaction Strategy

The reductive etherification reaction (RER) of carbonyl groups (aldehydes or ketones) through silane as a reducing agent together with Bronsted or Lewis acid affords the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers. This strategy is applied at the macromolecular level for the first time in 1993, and isophthalaldehyde is self-polymerized in the presence of triethylsilane (Et₃SiH)/ tritylperchlorate (TrClO₄) to yield polyethers with low to moderate molecular weights. Next, the polyethers with alternating structures are achieved by reacting isophthalaldehyde with bis(trimethylsilyl) ethers or diols as comonomers using reducing agent silane and Lewis acid. Moreover, in recent years, it is shown that polyether synthesis and post-polymerization modification (PPM) of polymers proceeds smoothly and effectively with the RER strategy in the presence of chlorodimethylsilane (CDMS), which acts as both a reducing agent and a Lewis acid.