FUNCTIONALIZATION OF POLY(METALLOCENES) VIA HYDROSILYLATION - SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLY(FERROCENYLSILANES)

Hydrosilylation of poly(ferrocenylmethylhydrosilane) [Fe(eta-C5H4)(2)S iMeH](n) with I-hexene and ethyl acrylate was achieved using Karstedt' s catalyst with degrees of functionalization of ca 80%. Using a simila r strategy, 4-pentoxy-4'-hydroxyhexanoxyazobenzene or 4-pentoxy-4'-hyd roxyundecyloxyazo-benzene acrylate side chains were successfully attac hed to the poly(metallocene) main chain. The resulting functionalized poly(ferrocenylsilanes) represent the first examples of calamitic ther motropic side chain liquid crystal polymers with ferrocene groups in t he backbone. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.