Ferrocene and Its Derivatives: Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Its Discovery

A special issue of Inorganics (ISSN 2304-6740). This special issue belongs to the section "Organometallic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 24731

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Interests: ferrocene; cobaltocene; synthesis; enantiomers; chiral resolution; inclusion complexes; antiproliferative effects; hippocampus
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect research and review contributions focused on recent advances in fundamental and applications of ferrocene compounds, as well as some memories from the history of ferrocene chemistry.

In 2021, the world chemical community will celebrate the 70th anniversary of this unique compound discovery. Over the past few years, the rapid development of the chemistry of so-called sandwich compounds has led to the synthesis of new substances with various properties. Among them, there are catalysts for the combustion of solid rocket fuels, and a cure for anemia, and potential drugs for the treatment of malaria, cancer, and tuberculosis.

We invite researchers in the fields of ferrocene chemistry, computer chemistry, biology, medicine, materials, catalysis, and history of science in this Special Issue. We are sure that historical overviews or notes will be of interest not only to scientists, but also to young people who are starting to engage in science, or who are interested in science.

Prof. Dr. Lubov Snegur
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ferrocene
  • synthesis
  • enantiomers
  • chiral resolution
  • bioactivity
  • toxicity
  • cancer
  • catalysis
  • DFT calculations
  • history of science

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 192 KiB  
Editorial
Ferrocene and Its Derivatives: Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Its Discovery
by Lubov V. Snegur
Inorganics 2023, 11(2), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics11020075 - 3 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Ferrocene is already 70 years old! A respectable age, as claimed by the authors of this Special Issue [...] Full article

Research

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21 pages, 6779 KiB  
Article
Biological Evaluation and Conformational Preferences of Ferrocene Dipeptides with Hydrophobic Amino Acids
by Monika Kovačević, Mojca Čakić Semenčić, Ivan Kodrin, Sunčica Roca, Jana Perica, Jasna Mrvčić, Damir Stanzer, Krešimir Molčanov, Valentina Milašinović, Lidija Brkljačić and Lidija Barišić
Inorganics 2023, 11(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics11010029 - 3 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2182
Abstract
Despite the large number of peptidomimetics with incorporated heteroannularly functionalized ferrocenes, few studies have investigated their bioactivity. Here, we report the biological evaluation and conformational analysis of enantiomeric dipeptides derived from 1′-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid (Fca) and hydrophobic amino acids (AA = Val, Leu, Phe). [...] Read more.
Despite the large number of peptidomimetics with incorporated heteroannularly functionalized ferrocenes, few studies have investigated their bioactivity. Here, we report the biological evaluation and conformational analysis of enantiomeric dipeptides derived from 1′-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid (Fca) and hydrophobic amino acids (AA = Val, Leu, Phe). The conformational properties of Y-AA-Fca-OMe (Y = Ac, Boc) were elucidated by experimental (IR, NMR, CD, and X-ray) and theoretical (DFT) methods. The prepared dipeptides were screened for their antimicrobial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, while their antioxidant activity was tested by DPPH and FRAP methods. Of all compounds tested, dipeptide d-2a showed the best antibacterial properties against S. aureus, B. subtilis, and P. aeruginosa at a concentration of 2 mM. The time–kill curves showed that antibacterial activity was concentration- and time-dependent. Chirality (d-) and a more polar-protecting group (Ac) were found to affect the biological activity, both antimicrobial and antioxidant. All investigated peptides are considered to be highly hydrophobic and chemically stable in both acidic and buffer media. Dipeptides d-1a3a, which showed biological activity, were subjected to the determination of proteolytic activity, revealing very good resistance to proteolysis in the presence of chymotrypsin. Full article
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29 pages, 2490 KiB  
Article
Convenient Access to Ferrocene Fused aza-Heterocycles via the Intramolecular Ritter Reaction: Synthesis of Novel Racemic Planar-Chiral 3,4-Dihydroferroceno[c]pyridines and 1H-Ferroceno[c]pyrroles
by Yuliya S. Rozhkova, Irina V. Plekhanova, Alexey A. Gorbunov and Yurii V. Shklyaev
Inorganics 2022, 10(11), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics10110214 - 19 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1906
Abstract
An efficient and easy approach to the synthesis of novel racemic planar-chiral 3,4-dihydroferroceno[c]pyridines and 1H-ferroceno[c]pyrroles via the intramolecular Ritter reaction of 2-ferrocenyl-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-ol with nitriles and thiocyanates in the presence of MeSO3H was developed. Aromatic and [...] Read more.
An efficient and easy approach to the synthesis of novel racemic planar-chiral 3,4-dihydroferroceno[c]pyridines and 1H-ferroceno[c]pyrroles via the intramolecular Ritter reaction of 2-ferrocenyl-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-ol with nitriles and thiocyanates in the presence of MeSO3H was developed. Aromatic and aliphatic nitriles, phenylacetonitriles, and β-oxonitriles produced exclusively 3,4-dihydroferroceno[c]pyridines. The condensation of 2-ferrocenyl-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-ol with various thiocyanates, including alkyl thiocyanates, benzyl thiocyanate, and ethyl 2-thiocyanatoacetate, yielded not only 3,4-dihydroferroceno[c]pyridines but also 1H-ferroceno[c]pyrroles. The selectivity of these reactions depended on the temperature and the order of addition. The size of substituents at the α-position to the sulfur atom of thiocyanates also had a significant effect on the distribution of products. Full article
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16 pages, 2651 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Novel Ferrocene-Benzofuran Hybrids via Palladium- and Copper-Catalyzed Reactions
by Enikő Nagy, Márk Váradi, Zoltán Nagymihály, László Kollár, Krisztina Kovács, Kitti Andreidesz, Ágnes Gömöry, Nikolay Tumanov, Johan Wouters and Rita Skoda-Földes
Inorganics 2022, 10(11), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics10110205 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
The combination of the ferrocene skeleton with pharmacophores often leads to molecules with interesting biological properties. Five ferrocene-benzofuran hybrids of different structures were synthesized by transition metal catalyzed reactions. The efficiency of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic methods was tested. The products were [...] Read more.
The combination of the ferrocene skeleton with pharmacophores often leads to molecules with interesting biological properties. Five ferrocene-benzofuran hybrids of different structures were synthesized by transition metal catalyzed reactions. The efficiency of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic methods was tested. The products were characterized using 1H, 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, HRMS and cyclic voltammetry. The structure of one of the new compounds was also proved with X-ray crystallography. The new hybrids showed moderate cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. It is remarkable that the less curable MDA-MB-231 cell line was more sensitive to treatment with three ferrocene derivatives. Full article
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16 pages, 3807 KiB  
Article
New Ferrocene-Based Metalloligand with Two Triazole Carboxamide Pendant Arms and Its Iron(II) Complex: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, 57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Magnetic Properties and Theoretical Calculations
by Peter Antal, Ivan Nemec, Jiří Pechoušek and Radovan Herchel
Inorganics 2022, 10(11), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics10110199 - 7 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2072
Abstract
The new ferrocene-based metalloligand bis (N-4-[3,5-di-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoyl])ferrocene carboxamide (L) was prepared through derivatization of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid with 4-amino-3,5-di(pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole. The composition and purity of L in the solid state was determined with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and its crystal [...] Read more.
The new ferrocene-based metalloligand bis (N-4-[3,5-di-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoyl])ferrocene carboxamide (L) was prepared through derivatization of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid with 4-amino-3,5-di(pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole. The composition and purity of L in the solid state was determined with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and its crystal structure with single-crystal X-ray analysis, which revealed that the substituted cyclopentadienyl rings adopt the antiperiplanar conformation and the crystal structure of L is stabilized by O–H···N and N–H···O hydrogen bonds. The molecular properties of L in solution were investigated with NMR and UV-VIS spectroscopies, and cyclic voltammetry disclosed irreversible redox behavior providing one oxidation peak at E1/2 = 1.133 V vs. SHE. Furthermore, the polymeric FeII complex {Fe(L)(C(CN)3)2}n (1) was prepared and characterized with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The last two methods confirmed that a mixture of low- and high-spin species is present in 1; however, the spin crossover properties were absent. The presented study was also supported by theoretical calculations at the DFT/TD-DFT level of theory using TPSS and TPSSh functionals. Full article
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20 pages, 8884 KiB  
Article
Ferrocenylmethylphosphanes and the Alpha Process for Methoxycarbonylation: The Original Story
by Kevin M. Fortune, Christa Castel, Craig M. Robertson, Peter N. Horton, Mark E. Light, Simon J. Coles, Mark Waugh, William Clegg, Ross W. Harrington and Ian R. Butler
Inorganics 2021, 9(7), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics9070057 - 17 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4094
Abstract
The Lucite Alpha process is the predominant technology for the preparation of acrylics. This two-stage process involves the palladium-catalysed formation of methyl propanoate from ethene, CO, and methanol, followed by the oxidative formylation of methyl propanoate into methyl methacrylate. A range of bis [...] Read more.
The Lucite Alpha process is the predominant technology for the preparation of acrylics. This two-stage process involves the palladium-catalysed formation of methyl propanoate from ethene, CO, and methanol, followed by the oxidative formylation of methyl propanoate into methyl methacrylate. A range of bis-1,2-disubstituted aminomethylferrocenes has been prepared and characterised. These complexes serve as precursors to a variety of bulky ferrocenylmethyldiphosphanes that, in turn, function as ligands in the palladium-catalysed process. We describe the crystal structures of five ligand precursors and provide a rationale for their design. In situ catalyst testing on palladium complexes derived from ferrocenylphosphanes demonstrates that these are highly selective (>99.5%) catalysts for the formation of methyl propanoate from ethene, CO, and methanol and have turnover numbers exceeding 50,000. This article credits those researchers who worked on this project in the early days, who received little or no credit for their achievements and endeavours. Full article
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Review

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20 pages, 3441 KiB  
Review
Modern Trends in Bio-Organometallic Ferrocene Chemistry
by Lubov V. Snegur
Inorganics 2022, 10(12), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics10120226 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3762
Abstract
Organometallic sandwich compounds, especially ferrocenes, possess a wide variety of pharmacological activities and therefore are attracting more and more attention from chemists, biologists, biochemists, etc. Excellent reviews concerning biological aspects and design of ferrocene-modified compounds appear regularly in scientific journals. This brief overview [...] Read more.
Organometallic sandwich compounds, especially ferrocenes, possess a wide variety of pharmacological activities and therefore are attracting more and more attention from chemists, biologists, biochemists, etc. Excellent reviews concerning biological aspects and design of ferrocene-modified compounds appear regularly in scientific journals. This brief overview highlights recent achievements in the field of bio-organometallic ferrocene chemistry from 2017 to 2022. During this period, new ferrocene-modified analogues of various bio-structures were synthesized, namely, betulin, artemisinin, steroids, and alkaloids. In addition, studies of the biological potential of ferrocenes have been expanded. Since ferrocene is 70 years old this year, a brief historical background is also given. It seemed to me useful to sketch the ‘ferrocene picture’ in broad strokes. Full article
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32 pages, 13065 KiB  
Review
Advanced Application of Planar Chiral Heterocyclic Ferrocenes
by Alexandra A. Musikhina, Polina O. Serebrennikova, Olga N. Zabelina, Irina A. Utepova and Oleg N. Chupakhin
Inorganics 2022, 10(10), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics10100152 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2043
Abstract
This manuscript is reviewing the superior catalytic activity and selectivity of ferrocene ligands in a wide range of reactions: reduction of ketones, hydrogenation of olefins, hydroboration, cycloaddition, enantioselective synthesis of biaryls, Tsuji–Trost allylation. Moreover, the correlation between a ligand structure and its catalytic [...] Read more.
This manuscript is reviewing the superior catalytic activity and selectivity of ferrocene ligands in a wide range of reactions: reduction of ketones, hydrogenation of olefins, hydroboration, cycloaddition, enantioselective synthesis of biaryls, Tsuji–Trost allylation. Moreover, the correlation between a ligand structure and its catalytic activity is discussed in this review. Full article
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23 pages, 13852 KiB  
Review
Ferrocenyl Migrations and Molecular Rearrangements: The Significance of Electronic Charge Delocalization
by Michael J. McGlinchey
Inorganics 2020, 8(12), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8120068 - 11 Dec 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3317
Abstract
The enhanced stabilization of a carbocationic site adjacent to a ferrocenyl moiety was recognized within a few years of the discovery of sandwich compounds. While a detailed understanding of the phenomenon was the subject of some early debate, researchers soon took advantage of [...] Read more.
The enhanced stabilization of a carbocationic site adjacent to a ferrocenyl moiety was recognized within a few years of the discovery of sandwich compounds. While a detailed understanding of the phenomenon was the subject of some early debate, researchers soon took advantage of it to control the ease and direction of a wide range of molecular rearrangements. We, here, discuss the progress in this area from the pioneering studies of the 1960s, to more recent applications in chromatography and analytical detection techniques, and currently in the realm of bioactive organometallic complexes. Several classic reactions involving ferrocenyl migrations, such as the pinacol, Wolff, Beckmann, and Curtius, are discussed, as well as the influence of the ferrocenyl substituent on the mechanisms of the Nazarov, Meyer-Schuster, benzoin, and Stevens rearrangements. The preparation and isomerizations of ferrocenyl-stabilized vinyl cations and vinylcyclopropenes, together with the specific cyclization of acetylcyclopentadienyl-metal derivatives to form 1,3,5-substituted benzenes, demonstrate the versatility and generality of this approach. Full article
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