Research on metal-containing polymers began in the early 1960's when several workers found that vinyl ferrocene and other vinylic transition metal TI -complexes would undergo polymerization under the same conditions as conventional organic monomers to form high polymers which incorporated a potentially reactive metal as an integral part of the polymer structures. Some of these materials could act as semi­ conductors and possessed one or two dimensional conductivity. Thus applications in electronics could be visualized immediately. Other workers found that reactions used to make simple metal chelates could be used to prepare polymers if the ligands were designed properly. As interest in homogeneous catalysts developed in the late 60's and early 70's, several investigators began binding homogeneous catalysts onto polymers, where the advantage of homogeneous catalysis - known reaction mechanisms and the advantage of heterogeneous catalysis - simplicity and ease of recovery of catalysts could both be obtained. Indeed the polymer matrix itself often enhanced the selectivity of the catalyst. The first symposium on Organometallic Polymers, held at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in September 1977, attracted a large number of scientists interested in this field, both established investigators and newcomers. Subsequent symposia in 1977, 1979, 1983, and 1987 have seen the field mature. Hundreds of papers and patents have been published.

Springer Book Archives

Inorganic and Metal-Containing Polymers An Overview.- Metal-Containing Polymers in the Soviet Union.- Polymer-Supported Catalysts in Conjugated Diene Polymerization.- Highly-Charged Dopant Ions for Polyacetylene.- New Poly (Imidazoleamides) Synthesized from HCN Tetramer.- Synthesis and Structure of Polyimide/Metal Microcomposites Via In Situ Conversion of Inorganic Additives.- Functionally Substituted Tetramethylcyclopentadienes: Synthesis and Use in the Construction of Organotransition Metal Monomers and Polymers.- Synthesis of Polyaspartamide-Bound Ferrocene Compounds.- Polycondensation of Chromiumtricarbonyl-Arene Systems and Organostannane Monomers Catalyzed by Palladium.- Metal Coordination Polymers as Potential High Energy Lithographic Resists.- Ti-B-N-C Containing Polymers: Potential Precursors for Ceramics.- Novel Inorganic Materials and Heterogeneous Catalysis: Preparation and Properties of High Surface Area Silicon Carbide and Silicon Oxynitrides.- The Polysilanes: Theoretical Predictions of Their Conformational Characteristics and Configuration - Dependent Properties.- Atomic Oxygen - Resistant Poly(Carborane Siloxane) Coatings.- The Synthesis of Silicon-Containing Polymers Via Carbanion Chemistry.- Reactions of Anionic Poly(Alkyl/Arylphosphazenes) with Carbon Dioxide and Fluorinated Aldehydes and Ketones.- Polymeric Auxin Plant Growth Hormones Based on the Condensation Products of Indole-3-Butyric Acid With Bis(Cyclopentadienyl) Titanium Dichloride and Dypyridine Manganese II Dichloride.- Comparative Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy of Condensation Products of Squaric Acid and Bis-cyclopentadienyl Titanium Dichloride.- Reaction of Amylose With Bis-cyclopentadienyl Titanium Dichloride.- Triphenylantimony-Modified Xylan.- Platinum (II) Polyamines: Determinationof Size, Degradation and Biological Activity.- Metal-Containing Polyethylene Waxes.- Organotin Antifouling Polymers: Synthesis and Properties of New Copolymers With Pendent Organotin Moities.- Synthesis, Characterization and Micro-Structure Determination of Organotin Polymers.