The crystallinity and thermal properties of the bifuran-containing polycarbosilane were superior to those of a corresponding polycarbosilane containing a single-furan-based repeat unit and comparable to those of the benzene-based analogue due to the rigidity and interchain interactions of the poly(bifurancarbosilane) unit.  Furthermore, the chemical recyclability is a unique and attractive property of the bifuran-based polycarbosilane; upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid, bifuran can be regenerated as the monomer, while trifluoroacetate silane can be up-cycled to the corresponding polysiloxane.  Thus, the bifuran motif endows polycarbosilane with improved thermal, optical, and recycling properties.
THERM