Polyferrocenylsilanes: Metal-containing polymers for materials science, self-assembly and nanostructure applications

Polyferrocenylsilanes represent a recently establisshed, readily accessible class of transition metal-containing macromolecules consisting of alternat ing ferrocene and organosilane units. High molecular weight, soluble sample s of these materials were first prepared in the early 1990's by thermal rin g-opening polymerization (ROP) of silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes ([1]si laferrocenophanes). More recently, living anionic and transition metal-cata lyzed ROP methodoligies have been developed, which permit unprecedented suc cess to controlled polymer architures (e.g. block copolymers) with transiti on metals in the main chain. Polyferrocenylsilane homopolymers and block co polymers offer exciting opportunities in materials and supramolecular scien ce and for nanostructure applications. In this article some recent research areas are discussed which illustrate the broad scope of these interesting new materials.