Vinyl ferrocenyl glycidyl ether: an unprotected orthogonal ferrocene monomer for anionic and radical polymerization

The first orthogonal ferrocene monomer, vinyl ferrocenyl glycidyl ether (VfcGE), for both anionic and radical polymerization – without the need of a protection group – is presented. Anionic ring-opening copolymerization of VfcGE and ethylene oxide (EO) generates stimuli-responsive, multifunctional poly[(vinyl ferrocenyl glycidyl ether)-co-(ethylene oxide)] (P[VfcGE-co-EO]) copolymers (molecular weights of ca. 7500 g mol−1 and low molecular weight dispersities (Đ ≤ 1.14)). The amount of the equimolar ferrocenyl and vinyl groups are controlled by the comonomer ratio up to 15.4 mol% VfcGE. The pendant vinyl groups of P[VfcGE-co-EO] were post-modified with 3-mercaptopropionic acid via thiol–ene…