Helical, Chiral Polyisocyanides Bearing Ferrocenyl Groups as Pendants: Synthesis and Properties

Winding up helices: The title compounds are prepared by a living polymerization of optically active ferrocenyl isocyanides initiated with a dinuclear Pt–Pd complex. Electrolytic CD and UV spectra suggest that the polymers exhibit reversible conformational change in response to oxidation and reduction of the ferrocenyl pendants (see scheme).