Why is Ferrocene so Exceptional?

Abstract

The appearance of ferrocene in the middle of the 20th century has revolutionized organometallic chemistry and is now providing applications in areas as varied and sometimes initially unexpected as optical and redox devices, battery and other materials, sensing, catalysis, including asymmetric and enantioselective catalysis, and medicine. The author presents here a general, although personal, view of ferrocene's chemistry, properties, functions, and applications through a literature survey involving both historical and up‐to‐date trends and including examples of his group's research in a number of these areas. The review gathers together general features of ferrocene chemistry and representative examples of the salient aspects. Its focus is on ferrocene's basic properties, ferrocene‐containing ligands, the ferrocene/ferricinium redox couple, ferrocene mixed‐valence and average‐valence systems, the ferricinium/ferrocene redox shuttle in catalysis, ligand‐exchange reactions, ferrocene‐containing polymers, ferrocene‐containing structures for cathodic battery and other materials, ferrocenes in supramolecular ensembles, liquid crystals, and nonlinear optical materials, ferrocene‐containing stars and their electrostatic effects, ferrocene‐containing dendrons, dendrimers, and nanoparticles (NPs) and their application in redox sensing and catalysis, and ferrocenes in nanomedicine.

A convenient access to 1,2-diferrocenyl-substituted ethylenes via [3 + 2]-cycloelimination of 2-silylated 4,4,5,5-tetrasubstituted 1,3-dithiolanes

“…Ferrocenyl-substituted ethylenes attract attention as compounds of practical importance for materials and medicinal chemistry [12]. Some of them display interesting photo-optical properties and in the case of so-called ferrocifens, their antitumor activity has extensively been studied [13].…”

Crystal structure of bis(μ2-ferrocenecarboxylato-κ2 O:O′)-bis(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)-(μ2-methanolato-κ2 O,O)dicopper(II) tetrafluoroborate – acetonitrile (1/1), C49H40BCu2F4Fe2N5O5

“…metalloligands are the best building blocks Brought to you by | MIT Libraries Authenticated Download Date | 5/9/18 10:25 PM for the construction of heterometallic complexes [8]. Since its discovery, ferrocene has proven to be a versatile backbone for various ligands because of its rich chemistry, stability and redox properties [9]. Ferrocenecarboxylic acid is the mono-carboxylated ferrocene [10] and widely used in the modification of electrode for biosensors and electrocatalytic oxidation [11][12][13].…”

One‐pot acid‐free ferrocenylalkylation of azoles with α‐ferrocenyl alcohols: ferrocene‐based plant growth regulators and herbicide safeners

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Therefore, preparations of a variety of these compounds are continuing to be a practically important task. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Therefore, preparations of a variety of these compounds are continuing to be a practically important task.…”