Electronic communication through the ureylene bridge: spectroscopy, structure and electrochemistry of dimethyl 1′,1′-ureylenedi(1-ferrocenecarboxylate)

Dimethyl 1′,1′-ureylenedi(1-ferrocenecarboxylate) (1) formed during the synthesis of 1-amino, 1′-ferrocenecarboxylic acid shows virtual molecular centrosymmetry. Electronic coupling between the two Fc groups through the ureylene bridge results in both Fc groups being individually oxidizable (ΔE1/2≫0.14 V). The possible existence of intermolecular electronic communication has discussed. The oxidation was followed by spectroelectrochemistry. The separation between the two halfwave potentials ΔE1/2=137±5 mV and the comproportionation constant Kc=207.