Synthesis of New Ferrocenylenesilylene Polymers by Direct Hydrosilylation/Polymerization of [FC–SiRH], FC = (η5-C5H4)Fe(η5-C5H4), Using Organometallic Alkenes and Alkynes

Abstract

Synthesis of new ferrocenylenesilylene polymers was effected by direct hydrosilylation/polymerization of 1,1′-methylsilyl-ferrocenophane [FC–SiMeH] (FC = (η5-C5H4)Fe(η5-C5H4) with acetylenes and organometallic olefins using a Pt0 catalyst. The reaction of [FC–SiMeH] with HC2Ph, HC2SiMe3, CH2=CHSiMe2Fp, Fp = (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2 and CH2=CHCH2SiMe2Fp in the presence of a platinum catalyst resulted in high yields of the corresponding hydrosilylated polymers. In the case of the acetylenes only β products were obtained, both E and Z isomers, whereas for the olefins both α and β-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.