Transition metal-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of strained, silicon-bridged bis(benzene)chromium complexesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Full experimental details. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/dt/b4/b406873d/

Silicon-bridged bis(benzene)chromium complexes (sila[1]chromarenophanes) undergo facile transition metal-catalyzed ROP at ambient temperature in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst to yield polychromarenylsilanes, the first homopolymers with main chains of Cr(arene)(2) and organosilane units.