Diblock Polyelectrolytic Copolymers Containing Cationic Iron and Cobalt Sandwich Complexes: Living ROMP Synthesis and Redox Properties

Abstract

Diblock metallopolymer polyelectrolytes containing the two redox-robust cationic sandwich units [CoCp'Cp](+) and [FeCp'(η(6)-C6 Me6)](+) (Cp = η(5)-C5 H5; Cp' = η(5)-C5H4-) as hexafluorophosphate ([PF6](-)) salts are synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization using Grubbs' third generation catalyst. Their electrochemical properties show full chemical and electrochemical reversibilities allowing fine determination of the copolymer molecular weight using Bard-Anson's electrochemical method by cyclic voltammetry.

Keywords: block copolymers; cobaltocenium; electrochemistry; ferrocenes; ring-opening metathesis polymerization.