Synthesis and redox properties of novel ferrocenes with redox active 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol fragments: The first example of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxyl radicals in ferrocene system

Abstract Novel Schiff bases of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde bearing 2,6-di- tert -butyphenol fragments N -(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)iminomethylferrocene ( 1 ) and N -(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)iminomethylferrocene ( 2 ) have been synthesized and characterized. The oxidation of the compounds 1 and 2 by PbO 2 in solution leads to the formation of stable phenoxyl radicals 1 ′ and 2 ′ studied by EPR spectroscopy. The redox properties of ferrocenes 1 and 2 were studied using cyclic voltammetry.