Research Projects

Ferrocenophanes are metal-based polymers with a ring opening mechanism, which are particularly interesting due to potential interactions between metal centers. Ferrocenephanes have been reported in the last 30 years, with their rigidity and stability largely dependent on the distortion of Cp rings from planarity. They are more reactive than other ferrocenophanes and have shown chirality within the molecular framework, making them ideal for asymmetric catalysis. some ferrocenophanes have also shown antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines. In recent decades, various approaches have been used to synthesize different types of ferrocenophanes. Mono-functionalization at C1, C2, or C3 of a ferrocenophanes has been extensively studied, while di-functionalization at C1, C2, or C1, C3 or C2, C3 has been reported. However, functionalization at all three bridging carbon atoms (C1, C2, and C3) has been rarely studied due to challenging reaction energetics and non-facile reaction conditions. Functionalization at all bridged carbon atoms will generate three stereogenic centers, leading to eight enantiomeric molecular frameworks with unique structural integrity. This will lead to asymmetric carba-ferrocenophanes, allowing for exploration of different enantiomeric and diasteromeric ferrocenophanes with varying functionality for biological and catalytic applications. The linking of heterocyclic moieties to ferrocenophanes bridges needs to be studied using facile synthetic methods and properties based on electrochemical, photophysical, sensor, and polymerization methods.