Organometallic polymers containing tricarbonyl(η4-diene)-ruthenium(0) and -iron(0) as pendant groups

Vinyl ethers containing tricarbonyl(14-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)-ruthenium(0) and -iron(0) species were prepared utilizing selective dienylation with penta-dienylpotassium and were polymerized with cationic initiators to give high molecular weight polymers. The diene-metal moieties were converted into tricarbonyl(13-η³-allyl)metal species by protonation with dry HCl. Tricarbonyl(3-allyl-14-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)iron(0) also undergoes cationic polymerization but the presence of its isomer, tricarbonyl(3-propenyl-14-η⁴-1,3-pentadiene)iron(0) inhibits the polymerization.