1,1′-Homodisubstituted Ferrocenes Containing Adenine and Thymine Nucleobases: Synthesis, Electrochemistry, and Formation of H-Bonded Arrays

Four organometallic nucleobases have been prepared and characterized, each consisting of a disubstituted ferrocene unit connected through either a conjugated or saturated linker group to adenine or thymine nucleobases. Their assembly behavior has been studied in the solid state via X-ray crystallography, revealing intermolecular H-bonded arrays. The electrode potentials in DCM are strongly dependent upon the nature of the linker group between the ferrocene unit and the nucleobase.