Oxidation of Terthiophene Substituted with Ferrocenyl Groups

Terthiophenes substituted with ferrocenyl or methyl groups were prepared by a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. The oxidation processes and the oxidized states of the compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, coulometry, and electronic absorption spectroscopy. The first oxidation of the ferrocenyl-terthiophenes took place on the ferrocene moiety; the resultant oxidized states spread over the terthiophene moiety. This implies the charge transfer from the ferricinium ion moiety to the terthiophene moiety.