Syntheses and reactions of ferrocene-containing polymers. III. Cyclopolymerization of 1,1′-divinylferrocene

1,1′-Divinylferrocene was polymerized with BF3OEt2 and AIBN initiators. Polymers were separated into benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions, the latter probably being crosslinked. The polymers obtained with BF3OEt2 were shown by infrared and NMR spectroscopy to contain both cyclized (70–80%) and uncyclized units, whereas the radical polymer consisted of more than 96% cyclized units. The benzene-soluble fraction of the cationically obtained polymer softened at temperatures below 150°C, but the insoluble fraction decomposed at 240°C. The radical polymers were stable up to 250–280°C (dec).