Polyferrocenylsilanes in Solution

Solution characterization by NMR has proved to be an invaluable tool as these polymers possess H, and Si NMR-active nuclei in the polymer backbone. 

In several cases, high-resolution NMR has been used to investigate the tacticity of polyferrocenylsilanes [91]. 

Thermal Transition Behavior, Morphology, and Conformational Properties 

Polyferrocenylsilanes can be fabricated into films, shapes, and fibers using conventional polymer processing techniques. The dimethyl derivative 3.22 (R=R = Me), which has been studied in the most detail, is an amber, film-forming thermoplastic (Fig. 3.7a) which shows a Tg at 33°C and melt transitions (T ) in the range 122-145 °C. The multiple melt transitions arise from the presence of crystallites of different size, which melt at slightly different temperatures [65, 100). Poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) 3.22 (R=R =Me) can be melt-processed above 150°C (Fig. 3.7b) and can be used to prepare crystalline, nanoscale fibers (diameter 100 nm to 1 pm) by electrospinning. In this method, an electric potential is used to produce an ejected jet from a solution of the polymer in THF, which subsequently stretches, splays, and dries. The nanofihers of different thickness show different colors due to interference effects simUar to those seen in soap bubbles 

The possible conformations of PFS chains in the solid state have attracted significant interest from several research groups, and much work has also focused on the prototypical material, poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) 3.22 (R=R =Me). One contribution towards an understanding of the conformations adopted by 

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