Synthesis of block copolymers containing poly(ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate) units

Abstract
Ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate (FMMA) has been polymerized by using LiAlH4–tetramethyl‐ethylenediamine initiation to form living polymers in high vacuum systems. The addition of methyl methacrylate or acrylonitrile to these living systems gave the block copolymers FMMA‐block MMA and FMMA‐block AN. The anions were not nucleophilic enough to initiate styrene polymerization. Therefore, living polystyrene was prepared (sodium naphthalide initiation in THF at −78°C) and upon FMMA addition, styrene‐block FMMA copolymers were formed. Extraction, precipitation, and gel‐permeation chromatography studies were performed to examine the purity of the block copolymers.