Redox-functionalised ligands: a 1,10-phenanthroline carrying two ferrocenyl groups

The redox-functionalised diimine ligand 3,8-di-n-pentyl-4,7-di(ferrocenylethinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (3) was synthesised and used for the preparation of the homoleptic zinc complex [Zn(3)2][PF6]2, whose cyclic voltammogram shows non-interacting ferrocenyl units, affording the hexacationic [Zn(3)2]6+ in a four-electron oxidation.