To obtain side-chain ferrocene-containing multifunctional polymers 2-acryloyloxyethyl ferrocenecarboxylate(AEFC) was synthesized and characterized via esterification reaction in this work. Ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA)

2-hydroxyethylacrylate (HEA)

N

N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCC) and 4-di(methylamino)-pyridine (DMAP) were used as reagent

dehydrating agent and catalyst

respectively. Then poly(2-acryloyloxyethyl ferrocenecarboxylate) (PAEFC) was synthesized and characterized by ATRP in toluene at 100 ℃

wherein

AEFC

copper(I) bromide (CuBr)

2

2'-bipyridine (bpy) and three kinds of bromoalkane were used as monomer

catalyst

ligand

and initiator

respectively. Three kinds of different initiators are ethyl bromoacetate (EBrA)

methyl 2-bromopropionate (2-MBP) and ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) respectively. Meanwhile

the influences of these different initiators on the polymerization kinetics were compared. These studies indicated that the procedure of polymerization of monomers doesn't follow a living/controlled manner with EBrA as initiator

while

the procedure of polymerization follows a living/controlled manner with 2-MBP and EBiB as initiator

respectively

and the controlability of EBiB is better than that of 2-MBP. In addition

the effects of EBiB and CuBr dosages on the process of polymerization were studied

and the suggested molar ratios AEFC/EBiB and AEFC/CuBr were 100/1 and 100/2

respectively. Thermal properties of the polymer demonstrated that it has lower melting point 158. 2 ℃

thermal decomposition enthalpy of 9541 J/g and higher decomposition temperature of 200~460 ℃.