The polymerization of metal-containing vinylic monomers of iron and tungsten with metal-carbon σ bonds

A series of metal-containing vinylic monomers of the type LnMCOC6H4HC=CH2 and LnMCOCH=CHC6H5 [LnM=(eta(5)-C5H5Fe(CO)(2)), (eta(5)-C5Me5)Fe(CO)(2)), (eta(5)-C5H5W(CO)(3))] was homopolymerized using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the free-radical initiator. These monomers were also copolymerized with styrene in the presence of AIBN. These compounds represent a class of organometallic polymers in which the metal is bonded to the polymer backbone via a metal-carbon sigma bond. The new compounds were characterized by IR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and thermoanalytical studies (DSC and TGA). The properties of the new organometallic polymers are discussed.