Some novel ferrocene‐containing polyamide‐based block copolymer materials with telechelic polydimethylsiloxane oligomer and their organic analogues were prepared by solution‐phase polycondensation of ferrocene‐based organometallic and terephthaloyl‐ as well as isophthaloyl‐based organic acyl chlorides with a series of semi‐aromatic diamines having ether linkages together with variable aliphatic character. The corresponding polyamides of the synthesized materials, without polydimethylsiloxane segment, were also prepared for comparison of physicochemical properties. None of the synthesized organometallic and organic block copolymers along with their respective polyamides melted below 300 °C and their structural features were confirmed by their physical properties and spectroscopic studies. The weight‐average molecular weights and molecular parameters of all these materials were determined by the static laser light scattering technique. The materials were soluble in sulfuric acid and partially soluble in common organic solvents, and yet became readily soluble upon N‐trifluoroacetylation. The synthesized materials were further characterized by their water absorption characteristics, X‐ray diffraction studies and surface morphology (SEM and AFM) and thermal (DSC and TG) analyses, and their structure–property relationships were elucidated from these studies. The energies of pyrolysis for these materials were calculated by the Horowitz and Metzger method. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Key indicators: single-crystal X-ray study; T = 173 K; mean (C-C) = 0.001 Å; R factor = 0.036; wR factor = 0.099; data-to-parameter ratio = 20.5.Molecules of the title compound, C 16 H 20 N 2 O 2 , reside across crystallographic centres of inversion with one half-molecule in the asymmetric unit. The bond lengths and angles are normal and the crystal packing is stabilized by N-HÁ Á ÁN and N-HÁ Á ÁO hydrogen bonds. Experimental Crystal dataC 16 H 20 N 2 O 2 M r = 272.34 Orthorhombic, Pbca a = 5.2638 (4) Å b = 13.6385 (8) Å c = 20.4415 (11) Å V = 1467.50 (16) Å 3 Z = 4 Mo K radiation = 0.08 mm À1 T = 173 (2) K 0.42 Â 0.39 Â 0.27 mm Data collectionStoe IPDS II two-circle diffractometer Absorption correction: none 18475 measured reflections 2051 independent reflections 1847 reflections with I > 2(I) R int = 0.043