Electron Transfer Studies on Conjugated Ferrocenyl-Containing Oligomers

1,2-Divinylferrocene (1) and 1,2-diformylferrocene (3) have been converted to ferrocenyl-containing oligomers in good yields using ADMET (acyclic diene metathesis) and HWE (Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons) reaction protocols. The resulting oligomers showed a high uniformity (low dispersity values); however, the poor solubility limits the chain growth and led to low average molecular weights. Within electrochemical measurements (CV) the conjugated materials showed reversible behavior that was stable during multicyclic experiments. Coupled electrochemical and spectroscopic studies confirmed electron transfer interactions between the ferrocenyl units through the oligomeric chains.