Reaction of organocobalt polymers with isocyanide. Synthesis of novel poly[(η5-cyclopentadienyl)(η5-amino-cyclopentadienyl)cobalticinium-diyl-alt-biphenyl-4,4′-diyl)]s

On the basis of the fact that the reaction of a cobaltacyclopentadiene derivative with t-butyl isocyanide quite effectively provides a (η5-cyclopentadienyl)(η4-iminocyclopentadiene)cobalt derivative which reveals a unique solvatochromic behavior, the polymers having cobaltacyclopentadiene-diyl and biphenyl-4,4′-diyl repeating units 1 were subjected to the reaction with t-butyl isocyanide to give those having (η5-cyclopentadienyl)(η4-iminocyclopentadiene)cobalt moieties in the main chain 2. By the subsequent reaction with iodomethane, the polymers 2 were converted quantitatively into cobalticinium-containing polymers 3 (i.e. poly[(η5-cyclopentadienyl)(η5-amino-cyclopentadienyl)cobalticinium-diyl-alt-biphenyl-4,4′-diyl)]s). The results of the spectroscopic, the electrochemical, and thermal analyses of the polymers (2 and 3) are also described.