Facile synthesis of first generation ferrocene dendrimers by a convergent approach using ditopic conjugated dendronsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: molecular structure of 2. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/nj/b1/b108142j/

A facile synthesis of new conjugated ferrocenyl-based dendrimers is reported and the compounds obtained have been fully characterized. The synthetic method consists of a two-step procedure, which combines olefination by the Wittig procedure and Pd-mediated C–C coupling, leading to high yields of first generation dendrimers with 3, 6 and 12 peripheral ferrocene units. The crystal structure of the conjugated ditopic ferrocenyl dendron and its aldehyde precursor are also described.