Substituent effects on alkylferrocenes in molten salt mixtures

Abstract The reduction potentials of five alkyl-substituted ferrocenes were determined in an N -(n-butyl)pyridinium chloride/aluminum chloride molten salt. By varying the substituent(s) on the cyclopentadienyl ring(s) of ferrocene, the reduction potential was caused to range over approximately 1.6 V. These changes are greater than have been observed for similar ferrocenes in other nonaqueous solvents. A close correlation of σ 0 p constants with reduction potentials was observed for these compounds.