Organometallic Electrochemistry: Origins, Development, and Future

Electropolymerization represents a suitable and well-established approach for the assembly of polymer structures, in particular with regard to the formation of thin, insoluble films. Utilization of monomers that are functionalized with metal complex units allows the combination of structural and functional benefits of polymers and metal moieties. Since a broad range of both electropolymerizable monomers and metal complexes are available, various structures and, thus, applications are possible. Recent developments in the field of synthesis and potential applications of metal-functionalized polymers obtained via electropolymerization are presented, highlighting the significant advances in this field of research.

Metal-containing Polymers via Electropolymerization

Two series of oligothiophenes (OThs), NaTn and TNTn (n = 2-6 represents the number of thiophene rings), end-capped with naphthyl and thionaphthyl units have been synthesized by means of Stille coupling. Their thermal properties, optical properties, single crystal structures, and organic field-effect transistor performance have been characterized. All oligomers display great thermal stability and crystallinity. ne crystallographic structures of NaT2, NaT3, TNT2, and TNT3 have been determined. The crystals of NaT2 and NaT3 are monoclinic with space group P2(1)/C, while those of TNT2 and TNT3 are triclinic and orthorhombic with space groups P-1(-) and P2(1)2(1)2(1), respectively. All oligomers adopt the well-known herringbone packing-mode in crystals with packing parameters dependent on the structure of the end-capping units and the number of thiophene rings. The shorter intermolecular distance in NaT3 compared to NaT2 indicates that the intermolecular interaction principally increases with increasing molecular length. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization indicate that the NaTn oligomers can form films with better morphology and high molecular order than TNTn oligomers with the same number of thiophene rings. The NaTn oligomers exhibit mobilities that are much higher than those for TNTn oligomers (0.028-0.39 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) versus 0.010-0.055 cm(2) V-1 s(-1), respectively).

Naphthyl and Thionaphthyl End-Capped Oligothiophenes as Organic Semiconductors: Effect of Chain Length and End-Capping Groups†

Metallomacromolecules containing cobalt sandwich complexes: Synthesis and functional materials properties

The synthesis and electrochemistry of 2,5-dimethylazaferrocenes with heteroaryl bridges

A series of 2,5-thiophene-substituted 1‘,2‘,3‘,4‘,5‘-pentamethylazaferrocene complexes were synthesized and electropolymerized to produce polymers with fully π-conjugated backbones. The length and hence oxidation potential of the conjugated linker (the thiophene fragments) between the metal centers were varied to understand the influence of the metal−metal interactions on the overall electroactivity of the resulting polymer. These complexes were electrochemically polymerized, and the resulting polymers were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, in situ conductivity, and spectroelectrochemistry measurements. The iron-centered oxidations significantly increased the conductivity of the polymer. The results reveal that shorter conjugated linkers cause the onset of conductivity to occur at lower potentials. This effect implies that a superexchange mechanism is likely operative in the charge migration of these polymers.

Conducting metallopolymers based on azaferrocene.

http://web.mit.edu/pmueller/www/own_papers/byrne_etal_2006.pdf

Paul D. Byrne

Papers

Conducting metallopolymers based on azaferrocene.

Polymerization of thiophene containing cyclobutadiene Co cyclopentadiene complexes