Bismethacrylate monomers and macromonomers bearing various alkoxysilyl units were
prepared by convenient Michael addition of ethylene glycol acrylate methacrylate (EGAMA) and ethylene
glycol bisacrylate (EGBA) to various α,ω-alkoxysilylamines. The resulting monomers and macromonomers
have been characterized in detail by NMR spectroscopy, VPO measurements and FAB−MS. Average
molecular weights M
n ranged between 530 and 1600 (VPO) in addition reactions with bisacrylates. FAB−MS evidenced the formation of a homologous macromonomer series. Viscosities of the liquid monomers
are relatively low, ranging from 52 to 305 mPa·s. This renders these compounds interesting as reactive
diluents in dental composite formulations. Polymerization of the monomers and macromonomers resulted
in low volumetric shrinkage in the range of ΔV = 2.2−7.8% at high methacrylate conversion. Cross-linking was monitored by photo-DSC. Furthermore, composites were prepared by mixing Bis-GMA with
the new hybrid monomers, initiator and glass filler. The composites showed compressive strengths of
190−329 MPa, flexural strengths from 23 to 53 MPa and Young's moduli between 2090 and 5060 MPa.
Low volumetric shrinkage was observed also for the composites upon photopolymerization, ranging from
only 0.8% to 2.2% in comparison to over 3% shrinkage of commercially available composites. Besides the
viscosity reducing effect due to the branched structure, the pendant alkoxysilyl groups of the synthesized
hybrid monomers can be polymerized to form nanoparticles with reactive acrylate surface, permitting
the in situ preparation of nanocomposites.