Synthesis, physicochemical studies and potential applications of high-molecular-weight ferrocene-based poly(azomethine)ester and its soluble terpolymers

► A new poly(azomethine)esters and its soluble block copolymers were synthesized using solution polycondensation reaction. ► Average molecular weights, Mw obtained by laser light scattering method were found to be of the order 105 g/mol. ► All the compounds studied were found potent antioxidants, highly cytotoxic and more importantly DNA protecting. ► PF resulted IC50 = 37.78 in tumor inhibition assay. ► In case of brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality assay PSi and PF showed LD50 < 1 ppm indicating highly toxic behavior.