Polymetallocenylenes-Recent Developments

The polymetallocenylenes represent a class of macromolecular compounds in which units of a metallocene complex are directly and difunctionally interconnected so as to constitute a linear chain.This chapter represents an account of recent progress in the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the only two types of poly-metallocenylene known to this date, viz. poly-1,11-ferrocenylene (obtained with Mn up to 10 000) and poly-1,1′-ruthenocenylene (obtained in the oligomer range).In addition, the partial oxidation of poly-1,1′-ferrocenylenes, which gives poly(1,1′-ferrocenylene-co-1,1′-ferricenylene) structures possessing mixed-valence characteristics, is treated, and a discussion is presented of potential applications for these organometallic polymer types and expected future developments in the polymetallocenylene field.