Iodine-doped ferrocenylene-silylene and -germylene polymers

Iodine doping of polyferrocenylenesilylene(germylene) thin films, [(eta(5)-R2EC5H4)Fe(eta(5)-C5H4)](n), E = Si, Ge, transforms them from insulators to conducting materials. The process was monitored by IR, Raman, and UV/vis spectroscopy and occurs via irreversible electron transfer to form of ferrocenium ion centers with [I-3](-) counteranions. The latter further react with I-2 to form [I-5](-) polyiodide anions in a reversible manner. A Mossbauer spectrum of the doped polymer suggests that alternate Fe centers have been oxidized. Treatment of the doped films with NH3 results in a typical compensation process.