Ring-Opening Polymerization of a Strained [3]Nickelocenophane: A Route to Polynickelocenes, a Class of S = 1 Metallopolymers

We report the synthesis, reactivity studies, and ring-opening polymerization of a tricarba­[3]­nickelo­ceno­phane. The resulting green poly­nickelocene (5) possesses a -(CH2)3- spacer between the nickelocene units and is shown to be of high molecular weight. SQUID magnetometry measurements indicate that 5 is a macromolecular material with an S = 1 repeat unit.