Polyferrocenes

[[File:FcSiR2chain.svg|thumb|200px|Structure of a poly(1,1’-ferrocene-silane).]]

[[File:FcSiR2chain.svg|thumb|200px|Structure of a poly(1,1’-ferrocene-silane).]]

'''Polyferrocenes''' are [[Polymer|polymers]] containing [[ferrocene]] units. Ferrocene offers many advantages over pure [[Hydrocarbon|hydrocarbons]] when used as a [[Building block (chemistry)|building block]] of [[macromolecular chemistry]]. The variety of possible [[Substitution (chemistry)|substitutions]] at the ferrocene parent body results in a multitude of accessible polymers with interesting electronic and photonic properties. Many polyferrocenes are relatively easily accessible. Poly(1,1'-ferrocene-silane) can be prepared by [[ring-opening polymerization]] and has a variety of interesting properties, such as a high [[refractive index]] or [[Semiconductor|semiconductor properties]]. [[Ring-opening polymerization]] usually leads to polymers containing ferrocene in the backbone. Besides the latter motif, ferrocene can be attached to the backbone as pendant unit as well.Rudolf Pietschnig: ''Polymers with pendant ferrocenes.'' In: ''Chemical Society Reviews.'' 45, 2016, p. 5216, {{doi|10.1039/c6cs00196c}}.

'''Polyferrocenes''' are [[Polymer|polymers]] containing [[ferrocene]] units. Ferrocene offers many advantages over pure [[Hydrocarbon|hydrocarbons]] when used as a [[Building block (chemistry)|building block]] of [[macromolecular chemistry]]. The variety of possible [[Substitution (chemistry)|substitutions]] at the ferrocene parent body results in a multitude of accessible polymers with interesting electronic and photonic properties.

Many polyferrocenes are relatively easily accessible. Poly(1,1'-ferrocene-silane) can be prepared by [[ring-opening polymerization]] and has a variety of interesting properties, such as a high [[refractive index]] or [[Semiconductor|semiconductor properties]]. [[Ring-opening polymerization]] usually leads to polymers containing ferrocene in the backbone. Besides the latter motif, ferrocene can be attached to the backbone as pendant unit as well.Rudolf Pietschnig: ''Polymers with pendant ferrocenes.'' In: ''Chemical Society Reviews.'' 45, 2016, p. 5216, {{doi|10.1039/c6cs00196c}}.

[[File:Biferrocene.svg|thumb|left|122 px|[[Biferrocene]] is the smallest unit of polyferrocene.]]

[[File:Biferrocene.svg|thumb|left|122 px|[[Biferrocene]] is the smallest unit of polyferrocene.]]

== Potential applications ==

== Potential applications ==

Polyferrocenes currently have no commercial applications, despite being the subject of research for nearly 50 years. Poly[[vinylferrocene]] gives electroactive films that have been investigated as glucose sensors.{{cite journal|title= Ferrocene-mediated enzyme electrode for amperometric determination of glucose|author1=Cass, Anthony E. G. |author2=Davis, Graham |author3=Francis, Graeme D. |author4=Hill, H. Allen O. |author5=Aston, William J. |author6=Higgins, I. John |author7=Plotkin, Elliot V. |author8=Scott, Lesley D. L. |author9=Turner, Anthony P. F. |journal=Analytical Chemistry|year=1984|volume=56|issue=4 |pages=667–671|doi=10.1021/ac00268a018|pmid=6721151}}

Polyferrocenes currently have no commercial applications, despite being the subject of research for nearly 50 years. Poly[[vinylferrocene]] gives electroactive films that have been investigated as glucose sensors.{{cite journal|title= Ferrocene-mediated enzyme electrode for amperometric determination of glucose|author1=Cass, Anthony E. G. |author2=Davis, Graham |author3=Francis, Graeme D. |author4=Hill, H. Allen O. |author5=Aston, William J. |author6=Higgins, I. John |author7=Plotkin, Elliot V. |author8=Scott, Lesley D. L. |author9=Turner, Anthony P. F. |journal=Analytical Chemistry|year=1984|volume=56|issue=4 |pages=667–671|doi=10.1021/ac00268a018|pmid=6721151}}