Synthesis of new ferrocenylenesilylene polymers by direct hydrosilylation/polymerization of [FC-SiRH], FC = (η5-C5H4) Fe(η5-C5H4), using organometallic alkenes and alkynes

Synthesis of new ferrocenylenesilylene polymers was effected by direct hydrosilylation/polymerization of 1,1'-methylsilyl-ferrocenophane [FC-SiMeH] (FC = (eta(5)-C5H4)Fe(eta(5)-C5H4) with acetylenes and organometallic olefins using a Pt-0 catalyst. The reaction of [FC-SiMeH] with HC2Ph, HC2SiMe3, CH2=CHSiMe(2)Fp, Fp = (eta(5)-C5H5)Fe(CO)(2) and CH2=CHCH(2)SiMe(2)Fp in the presence of a platinum catalyst resulted in high yields of the corresponding hydrosilylated polymers. In the case of the acetylenes only beta products were obtained, both E and Z isomers, whereas for the olefins both alpha and beta-isomers were noted. Only in the case of the more bulky allylsilicon material was any unreacted SiH functionality retained in the polymer, an effect also noted when using [FCSiPhH] as the starting ferrocenophane. Cyclic voltammetric studies on these polymers revealed metal-metal interaction with two redox processes associated with the ferrocenylene Fe center along with an irreversible oxidation at higher potential for the Fp Fe atom.