Carbenes with ferrocenyl substituents

Carbenes containing ferrocenyl substituents are interesting target compounds due to the stereoelectronic influence of the metallocenyl groups in terms of steric protection, electron-donation, and reversible redox chemistry. Synthetic approaches to ferrocenyl-substituted methylidenes and N-heterocyclic carbenes are summarized, the reactivity of these carbenes is explored, and the spectroscopic, structural and electrochemical properties of the carbene derivatives are discussed.