Full-conjugated ferrocene-based polymers

This review focuses on the synthesis and properties of the special classe of full-conjugated ferrocenyl polymers with excellent properties, such as electrochemistry, redox, magnetism, catalysis, thermal-stability and so on. Due to their specialties of π-π electron structure, the full-conjugated ferrocenyl polymers have extensive applications in optical, electronic and magnetic fields. The three types of polymers are described: full-conjugated main-chain ferrocenyl polymer, full-conjugated side-chain ferrocenyl polymer and full-conjugated hyperbranched ferrocenyl polymer. The influences of the polymer structures on solubility and redox behavior are discussed. Problems and possible prospects are also discussed.