Organometallic ferrocenyl dendrimers: synthesis, characterization and redox properties

Abstract

A series of dendritic poly(aryl ether)s containing 3, 6, 12 and 24 ferrocene functionalities located exclusively at the peripheries of the dendritic structures have been synthesized using the stepwise convergent approach. The structures of these dendrimers have been characterized using ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR spectroscopy. Cyclic and normal pulse voltammetric studies indicate that the ferrocenyl moieties located on the outer surfaces of these dendrimers are non-interacting redox centres, are electrochemically equivalent, and are oxidizable at the same potential. The results of controlled-potential coulometric oxidation show that nearly all the ferrocene residues in the dendrimers are accessible to electron transfers in electrode reactions.