Syntheses, structures of N‐(substituted)‐2‐aza‐[3]‐ferrocenophanes and their application as redox sensor for Cu2+ ion

Abstract

Rigid N‐(substituted)‐2‐aza‐[3]‐ferrocenophanes L1 and L2 were easily synthesized from 1,1 ‐dicarboxyaldehydeferrocene and the corresponding amines. Ligands L1 and L2 were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The coordination abilities of L1 and L2 with metal ions such as Cu2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical shift (ΔE1/2) of 125 mV was observed in the presence of Cu2+ ion, while no significant shift of the Fc/Fc + couple was observed when Mg2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ metal ions were added to the solution of L1 in the mixture of MeOH and H2O. Moreover, the extent of the anodic shift of redox potentials was approximately equal to that induced by Cu2+ alone when a mixture of Cu2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ was added to a solution of L1. Ligand L1 was proved to selectively sense Cu2+ in the presence of large, excessive first‐row transition and late‐transition metal cations. The coordination model was proposed from the results of controlled experiments and quantum calculations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.