Inorganic and organometallic macromolecules

The reasons for the success of inorganic and organometallic macromolecules over the corresponding organic materials stand on the structure-property relationships existing in these polymers. 

Prior reviews concerning inorganic and organometallic macromolecules are contained in texts by Stone and Graham (1),... 

Thus, important structure/property relationships are emerging that are relevant to electronic and optical materials applications for these materials. In a different vein, side chain crystallization has resulted in the first liquid crystalline inorganic and organometallic macromolecules, viz., unusual poly(dialkoxy-phosphazenes) described by Allcock (p. 250) and Singler (p. 268). 

Unique combinations of properties continue to be discovered in inorganic and organometallic macromolecules and serve to continue a high level of interest with regard to potential applications. Thus, Allcock describes his collaborative work with Shriver (p. 250) that led to ionically conducting polyphosphazene/salt complexes with the highest ambient temperature ionic conductivities known for polymer/salt electrolytes. Electronic conductivity is found via the partial oxidation of unusual phthalocyanine siloxanes (Marks, p. 224) which contain six-coordinate rather than the usual four-coordinate Si. 

Part of this symposium was directed to the synthesis, properties and applications of inorganic and organometallic macromolecules with network structures. The section on organo-oxo macromolecules relevant to sol-gel processing addresses the interesting synthesis and challenging characterization efforts in this area. Brinker (p. 314) outlines the complex chemical and physical factors which affect network formation and structure resulting from the hydrolysis of a tetraalkoxysilane. 

A.S. Abd-El-Aziz et at. (eds.), Inorganic and Organometallic Macromolecules Design and Applications. 

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