Side-Chain Type Ferrocene Macrocycles

A class of side-chain type ferrocene macrocycles with
a radially
conjugated system is introduced in this study. The stereo configurations
of these ferrocene rings were determined through single-crystal X-ray
diffraction analysis. Notably, in the solid state, the ferrocene rings
exhibit a distinctive herringbone stacking pattern imposed by a ferrocene-to-ring
host–guest interaction. Through UV–vis absorption spectroscopy,
electrochemical measurements, and theoretical calculations, valuable
insights into the electronic properties of these rings were obtained.
In addition, the single crystal of macrocycle A2B demonstrates a second-order nonlinear
optical response. As a class of organometallic nanorings, this work
holds great potential for further exploration in the fields of organometallic
chemistry, molecular electronics, and host–guest chemistry.