NEW-TYPE OF POLYMER CONTAINING 1,1'-FERROCENEDIYL UNIT IN PI-CONJUGATED MAIN-CHAIN - PREPARATION AND REDOX BEHAVIOR

New ferrocenic polymers formulated as (-Fc-C=C-Ar-C=C-)(n) (Fc = 1,1'- ferrocenylene; Ar = p-C6H4, 2,5-pyridinediyl, and 2,5-didodecyl-p-phen ylene) have been prepared by a Pd-catalyzed C-C coupling polymerizatio n. Electrochemical oxidation of the polymers requires a higher potenti al than those of ferrocene and poly(ferrocene) owing to bonding to the electron withdrawing -C=C- group, and their broadened cyclic voltammo grams suggest an exchange of electron between the Fe units along the p i-conjugated main chain, Mossbauer spectra of iodine adducts of the po lymers reveal that the polymer with the p-C6H4 unit (as the Ar unit) i s oxidized with iodine whereas the polymer with the 2,5-pyridinediyl i s not, the difference is accounted for by the electronic effect and re activity of the Ar units. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.