Metallocene as Mechanophore in Polymers Leads to Metal Ion Release & Oxidation

Stimuli-responsive polymers are high-performance materials that can change their chemical or physical properties upon exposure to mechanical force, light, heat, or another stimulus or a combination of stimuli.[1,2] This behavior can lead to materials with particular functions, for example self-healing.[3] In a recent study,[4] we investigated mechanoresponsive polymers containing ferrocene as a mechanophore. We, and in the meantime others,[5] demonstrated the mechanical breaking of the sandwich complex, and a related release of metal ions in solution (Fig. 1).