REDOX-FUNCTIONALIZED TERPYRIDINES - FERROCENYLHYDROXYETHYL AND FERROCENYLVINYL GROUPS COVALENTLY ATTACHED TO 2,2' 6',2''-TERPYRIDINE - OXIDATIVE ELECTROPOLYMERIZATION OF THE VINYL DERIVATIVE AND ITS METAL-COMPLEXES/

The reaction of 4'-methyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine with ferrocenecarbal dehyde in the presence of lithium di-isopropyl-amide allowed us to iso late the ferrocene-functionalised terpyridine derivative 4'-[2-ferroce nyl-2-hydroxyethyl] -2,2':6',2'' -terpyridine (L-1) in a 80% yield. De hydration of L-1 with pyridinium toluene-p-sulphonate yielded the corr esponding ferrocenylvinyl derivative 4'-ferrocenylvinyl-2,2':6',2''-te rpyridine, (L-2). Their spectroscopic and electrochemical characterisa tion aid the synthesis of homoleptic complexes of L-1 and L-2 in aceto nitrile has been carried out. The oxidative electropolymerisation of L -2 and the enhancement or inhibition of the polymerisation process due to the presence of different transition metal ions is also reported. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.