Electrochemical behavior of alkyl-bridged biferrocene derivatives

Compounds containing two or more ferrocenyl groups are well-known precursors for mix-valent compounds1-2]. It was believed that the interaction between the ferrocenyl groups are facilitated by the conjugate bridge between them. Many such researches were reported. In this paper, we report the electrochemical behavior of alkyl-bridged biferrocene, their acylation derivatives and corresponding reduction products, and transition metal complexes with alkyl-bridged biferrocenyl aryl hydrazone and β-alkyl-bridged-α,β-unsaturated ketones. Though the bridging alkyl group prevents conjugation between the two ferrocenyl group, they show characteristics of mix-valence species. The extent of interaction between the two ferrocenyl groups is influenced by the distance between the iron atoms, the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ring, transition metal ions and their coordination modes.