Iron-Containing Polymers with Azo Dyes in their Side Chains or Backbones

Interest in organometallic macromolecules has grown exponentially ever since Arimoto and Haven first polymerized vinylferrocene in 1955 [1]. Organometallic polymers are known to possess unique optical, magnetic, and thermal properties which allow for potential applications as chemical sensors, electrocatalysts, modified electrodes, and photo-active molecular devices [2–7]. Organoiron polymers are one of the most prevalent classes of organometallic polymers, with many reports on their synthesis and properties published over the past 50 years [8–11]. Of the many varieties of organoiron species, ferrocene and cationic cyclopentadienyliron complexes are most commonly incorporated into polymers.