Functionalization of poly(metallocenes) via hydrosilylation: synthesis and properties of thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(ferrocenylsilanes)

Polyferrocenylsilanes: synthesis, properties, and applications

This comprehensive review covers polyferrocenylsilanes (PFSs), a well-established, readily accessible class of main chain organosilicon metallopolymer. The focus is on the recent advances involving PFS homopolymers and block copolymers and the article covers the synthesis, properties, and applications of these fascinating materials.

Polyferrocenylsilane-Based Polymer Systems

The study of metallopolymers has blossomed into a mature field over the last few decades. Especially, polyferrocenylsilane (PFS) chemistry has taken a tremendous leap and continues to raise intense interest. Since the discovery of thermal ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of sila[1]ferrocenophanes, PFSs have been also accessed by anionic, cationic, transition-metal-catalyzed, and photolytic anionic ROP methodologies. A plethora of synthetic strategies have been devised, enabling access to a wide variety of copolymers, polyelectrolytes, and nanostructured materials. The distinctive physical properties and functions of many PFS-based polymers have been explored, leading to their apt exploitation in technical applications. Therefore, it is conceivable that PFS-related platforms might be indispensable nano-objects in the near future, as they stand on the verge of a new generation of sophisticated materials.

Article

Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of strained ring-tilted metallocenophanes can be achieved thermally, via anionic or cationic initiation, or by the use of transition-metal catalysts and provides access to a wide range of high molecular weight (Mw = 105-106, Mn > 105) poly(metallocenes). These materials possess a variety of interesting properties and many are very easy to prepare. This article provides an overview of our work, giving background to and an account of the initial discovery, and discusses work on the synthesis and properties of new poly(metallocenes) and related materials with particular emphasis on recent research directions.Key words: metallocene, ring-opening polymerization, ferrocenophane, organometallic polymer.