Electrochemical Assembly of Metallopolymeric Films via Reduction of Coordinated 5-Chlorophenanthroline

Electrochemical reduction of iron, osmium, and ruthenium complexes containing the ligand 5-chlorophenanthroline leads to the controlled growth of metallopolymers as electrode coatings. The coatings are electroactive and display a reversible electrochromic effect upon metal oxidation. Auger electron spectroscopy studies show that the polymerization mechanism involves carbon—chlorine bond cleavage and the generation of exchangeable chloride ions. The proposed linkage mechanisms involve direct carbon—carbon coupling of phenanthroline ligands. The possible utility of these new polymers in redox conductivity studies and in microstructure fabrication is noted.