Ferrocenyl dendrimers: multi-electron redox reagents and their applications

In this Perspective article, the assembly of ferrocenyl dendrimers, from small to giant sizes, is shown to provide a variety of key properties resulting from multi-electron-transfer. Remarkable features are the chemical and electrochemical reversibility, fast electron-transfer to electrodes, “near” equivalence of the redox potential of all the dendritic redox centers and the “redox breathing” of giant dendrimers. Under certain conditions, which are discussed (in particular the electrostatic effect), these properties lead to applications in the field of redox recognition and sensing, with these nanomaterials functioning as exo-receptors, redox catalysts with biochemical applications and, potentially, molecular batteries.