Convenient routes to a range of water-soluble polyferrocenylsilane polyelectrolytes are
reported. Direct reaction of the protected aminopropynyl reagent LiC⋮CCH2N(SiMe2CH2)2 (8) with the
substitutionally labile ring-opened polymer [fcSiMeCl]
n
(3) (fc = Fe(η−C5H4)2), which is generated via
Pt-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of the silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophane fcSiMeCl (6), afforded
the polymer [fcSiMe{C⋮CCH2N(SiMe2CH2)2}]
n
(10). Polymer 10 was also obtained via ring-opening
polymerization of the [1]ferrocenophane fcSiMe{C⋮CCH2N(SiMe2CH2)2} (9) prepared from the reaction
of the lithium salt 8 and the substitutionally labile [1]ferrocenophane 6, which is readily accessible via
the reaction of fcLi2·TMEDA with MeSiCl3. Deprotection of 10 was readily achieved using THF/MeOH to
yield [fcSiMe(C⋮CCH2NH2)]
n
(11), which was conveniently reduced with hydrazine to the analogous
aminopropyl polymer [fcSiMe(CH2CH2CH2NH2)]
n
(12). Treatment of polyferrocenylsilanes 11 and 12 with
HCl generated the water-soluble cationic polyelectrolytes [fcSiMe(C⋮CCH2NH3Cl)]
n
(13) and [fcSiMe(CH2CH2CH2NH3Cl)]
n
(14), respectively. Cationic polyferrocenylsilanes 13 and 14 were obtained in three
steps from polymer 3 with an overall yield of 40−50%. An unexpected rearrangement process took place
during the lithiation of the protected aminopropyl bromide Br(CH2)3N(SiMe2CH2)2 (15) and a reaction of
the resulting lithium salt with 6 yielded the novel [1]ferrocenophane fcSiMe{N(CH2)3SiMe2(CH2)2SiMe2}
(17) with a rearranged, and ring-expanded, cyclic silylamino substituent. Species 17 underwent thermal
ring-opening polymerization to afford [fcSiMe{N(CH2)3SiMe2(CH2)2SiMe2}]
n
(18). Treatment of polymer
10 with 1,3-propane sultone afforded the anionic polyelectrolyte [fcSiMe{C⋮CCH2N(CH2CH2CH2SO3Na)2}]
n
(19). Polymer 19 was readily reduced with hydrazine to give [fcSiMe{CH2CH2CH2NH(CH2CH2CH2SO3)(CH2CH2CH2SO3Na)}]
n
(20) bearing saturated side chains; subsequent deprotonation yielded
the anionic polyelectrolyte [fcSiMe{CH2CH2CH2N(CH2CH2CH2SO3Na)2}]
n
(21). All three anionic polyelectrolytes 19−21 were obtained in 2−3 steps from 3 with 60−75% overall yields. The polyferrocenylsilane
polyelectrolytes 13, 14, and 19−21 were readily soluble in water, making them potentially useful materials
for a range of applications.