Ring-opened polyferrocenes: Metal-containing polymers for materials science, self-assembly and nanostructure applications

PMSE 221

George R Whittell, g.whittell@bristol.ac.uk and Ian Manners, ian.manners@bristol.ac.uk. School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
Phosphorus-containing polymers have found application as immobile supports for transition metal catalysts. These materials, however, are generally prepared by modification of cross-linked organic polymers and are poorly defined with respect to the phosphorus site. The preparation of phosphorus(III)-containing polymers of controlled architecture thus represents an attractive goal.

We present results regarding the synthesis of linear poly(ferrocenylphosphine)s via the novel photolytic ring-opening polymerisation of [1]phosphaferrocenophanes. This methodology is more tolerant of function within the monomer than existing routes, but still enables control of molecular weight and end-group function. Furthermore, the method has been extended to the preparation of poly(ferrocenylphosphine)-containing block copolymers and the self-assembly of these materials in both the bulk and solution states has been studied.