High molecular weight copolymers of vinylferrocene and 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene with various N-substituted maleimides

Two series of ferrocene-containing polymers have been synthesized from various N-substituted maleimides with 3-phenyl5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene (3A–C) or vinylferrocene (4A–C). These copolymers exhibit high molecular weights and 4A–C formed free standing films. Electrochemical studies with copolymers 3A–C and 4A–C in dimethylacetamide show chemical reversibility for all of the materials but only copolymers 4A–C show electrochemical reversibility. These copolymers were also electrochemically deposited from methylene chloride onto a platinum electrode to form chemically modified electrodes (CMEs). The CMEs show desorption of the ferrocene polymers in acetonitrile solutions but exhibited good stability in aqueous solution. The thermal stabilities of the copolymers 4A–C are typical for a ferrocene containing polymer with 10% weight loss occurring at ca. 385 °C. Copolymers 3A–C exhibit higher thermal stabilities with 10% weight loss at 438 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the copolymers showed melt transitions just before the onset of thermal decomposition.