tert-Butyl-Substituted Poly(ferrocenylene persulfides)

Forrocenes have played a central role in the historical development of the organometallic polymers. Species that have attracted significant attention include poly-(vinylferrocene) and polyferrocenylenes, as well as ferrocene-based silanes and siloxanes. In the present paper we report on a polymerization procedure that is applicable to a number of ferrocenes. The precursors to the new polymers are ferrocene trisulifides, sometimes called trithiaferrocenophanes. The trithiaferrocenophanes were prepared by dilithiation of the t-Bu-substituted ferrocenes followed by treatment with elemental sulfur. t-BufeS₃ was obtained as the 1,3,1'-isomer.