Ferrocenylanthracene polymers: the direct synthesis using “Lawesson’s Reagent”

A method for polymerizing ferrocenylanthraquinone compounds was investigated, using a methodology developed originally for the polymerization of 9,10-anthracenedithiols. This procedure uses an in situ reaction of “Lawesson’s Reagent” (p-methoxyphenylthionophosphine sulphide dimer), with anthraquinone allowing polymerization to proceed across the 9- and 10-positions of the ferrocenylanthraquinones resulting in polymers with pendant ferrocene groups on the polymer backbone. Monomers used for these reactions were anthraquinone (literature comparison), 2-ferrocenylanthraquinone and 2,6-diferrocenylanthraquinone.