Structures and charge-discharge properties of spin-carrying ferrocene derivatives

Several ferrocene derivatives (1-6) carrying nitroxide radical were prepared as dual redox compounds. They have distorted molecular structures and exhibit oxidation potentials based on both ferrocene and nitroxide groups except 4. The multi-step charge-discharge processes are discriminated for mono-substituted derivatives with the first discharge capacity up to 400 Ah kg⁻¹ for imino-derivative 3, while relatively characterless profiles are observed for bis-substituted derivatives 4 and 6 with capacity over 300 Ah kg⁻¹.