Synthesis, crystal structure and electrochemistry of carbon-bridged diferrocenyl compounds

Abstract

Three carbon bridged diferrocenyl compounds: FcC(H2)Fc (A), FcC(O)Fc (B) and Fc(H)C(OH)Fc (C) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and MS. The molecular structures were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The electrochemical interactions between two ferrocenyl units in these compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculation. By study of the relationship between the electron communication of the two ferrocenyl units and the property of the three carbon bridged diferrocenyl compounds, it is concluded that the polarity degree of the bridged C was a key factor for the electron communication of the two ferrocenyl units.