Abstract
A new interesting category of organometallic polyketones and copolyketones were synthesized via the Friedel–Crafts reaction through the polymerization of 2,6‐[bis (2‐ferrocenyl)methylene] cyclohexanone (II) with different diacid chlorides. The model compound was synthesized by reacting the monomer (II) with benzoyl chloride and characterized by ^1^H‐NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. The polyketones and copolyketones were insoluble in most organic solvents but easily soluble in protic solvents. The thermal properties of these polyketones and copolyketones were evaluated and correlated to their structural units by thermogravimetric analysis and DSC measurements, and they had inherent viscosity of 0.29–0.52 dI g^−1^. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of one of the polyketones, as a selected example, namely poly [carbonyl‐terephthaloyloxy‐ (2‐oxo‐1,3‐cyclohexanediylidene)methylidyne‐ferrocenyl], Va, and copolyketone, VI, was investigated above the temperature range (300–500 K) and it followed an Arrhenius equation with activation energy 2.09 eV. The morphological properties of selected example of polyketones were determined by scanning electron microscopy. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1440–1448, 2004