Enlarging the Toolbox: Epoxide Termination of Polyferrocenylsilane (PFS) as a Key Step for the Synthesis of Amphiphilic PFS-Polyether Block Copolymers.

Epoxide termination and functionalization of living poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFDMS) is introduced by precapping the living PFDMS with a 4/2 molar mixture of 1,1-diphenylethylene and 1,1-dimethylsilacyclobutane acting as a "carbanion pump" system. Subsequent addition of allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) leads to quantitatively functionalized PFDMS-AGE polymers with molecular weights between 1500 and 15 400 g mol and polydispersity indices ≤1.10, carrying one hydroxyl group and an additional allylic double bond.