The benzimidazole-based ligand containing polymerizable styrene group has been prepared via condensation of picolinaldehyde derivative containing styrene moiety and benzimidazole-based hydrazine. The ligand reacted with iron(II) tetrafluoroborate and iron(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate giving red-brown complexes of Fe(II) ions of formula [FeL2]X2, where X = CF3SO3- (1) or BF4- (2). Reductive electropolymerization was used to obtain a thin layer of the polymeric complex, poly-1. Further investigation of electrochemical properties of the compound by cyclic voltammetry showed two quasi-reversible redox processes assigned to electrooxidation and electroreduction of the polymer. Spectroelectrochemical measurements confirmed that the polymer undergoes the color changes during oxidation and reduction process. The polymer in its neutral state (Fe(II)) is yellow and it exhibits absorption band at 370 nm, after oxidation to Fe(III) state absorption band shifts to 350 nm and the polymer is almost colorless. While the metal ions are reduced to Fe(I) absorption band at around 410 nm has been observed and the polymer changed its color to intense yellow. The stability of the polymer during multiple oxidation/reduction cycles has also been investigated.
Keywords: N3-donor ligand; electrochromism; iron(II) complex; reductive electropolymerization.