SYNTHESIS AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF COPOLYMERS CONTAINING 3-PHENYL[5]FERROCENOPHANE-1,5-DIMETHYLENE AND VINYLIMIDAZOLE

Ferrocene is a well-known organometallic compound and its structure consists of an iron atom sandwiched between two cyclopentadienyl rings. Ferrocene has unique properties such as redox chemistry, high electron density, thermal stability and aromaticity. In addition, the ferrocene can be incorporated into polymers either into the backbone or on the side chains. Ferrocene incorporated polymers have received considerable attention in the areas of electro-catalysis, electrode coating, and battery applications. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to characterize the electrochemical behavior of copolymers of 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene with vinyl imidazole in aqueous solutions with various electrolytes: sodium perchlorate, zinc perchlorate, cadmium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, and lead perchlorate. Using a Wittig reaction, the 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene was synthesized from 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dione. Copolymerization with vinyl imidazole was achieved using AIBN as the initiator. The resulting polymers were characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR and 13CNMR. Cyclic voltammetry was performed in order to determine electrochemical response of each polymer. Finally, copolymers were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy as solution in methylene chloride and as thin films to determine electronic communication between the ferrocene and imidazole moieties