/spl pi/-conjugated organometallic polymers based on Pd(II) coordination sites

Summary form only given. Polyconjugated organometallic molecules have been reinvestigated recently because of their peculiar properties suitable for electronic devices. The polymerization of ethynyltrimethylsilane, HC/spl equiv/C-Si(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/, in the presence of the complex trans-{Pd[C/spl equiv/C-Si(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/]/sub 2/(PPh/sub 3/)/sub 2/} yields soluble (A) and insoluble (B) materials. In polymer A the metal atom is inserted through /spl alpha/-bonds into the polyene chain in a linear configuration:[(-CH=CR)/sub m/-M-(CH=CR)/sub m/-]/sub n/ (M = Pd(OPPh/sub 3/)/sub 2/; R = Si(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/; m = 5/spl divide/10; n = 10/spl divide 20/). Polymer B is a crosslinked material containing Pd(II) sites /spl alpha/-bonded to the (-HC=CR-)/sub m/ units and also coordinated to the /spl pi/-conjugated double bonds of adjacent polymer chains upon releasing of the OPPh/sub 3/ ligands. The proposed structures have been exploited on the basis of XPS, IR and G.P.C. measurements. Investigations on the electrical properties of doped A and B are in progress.