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

摘要

Polyferrocenylsilanes represent a recently establisshed, readily accessible class of transition metal-containing macromolecules consisting of alternating ferrocene and organosilane units. High molecular weight, soluble samples of these materials were first prepared in the early 1990's by thermal ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes ([1]silaferrocenophanes). More recently, living anionic and transition metal-catalyzed ROP methodoligies have been developed, which permit unprecedented success to controlled polymer architures (e.g. block copolymers) with transition metals in the main chain. Polyferrocenylsilane homopolymers and block copolymers offer exciting opportunities in materials and supramolecular science and for nanostructure applications. In this article some recent research areas are discussed which illustrate the broad scope of these interesting new materials. [References: 113]