Carbenes containing ferrocenyl substituents are interesting target compounds due to the stereoelectronic influence of the metallocenyl groups in terms of steric protection, electron-donation, and reversible redox chemistry. Synthetic approaches to ferrocenyl-substituted methylidenes and N-heterocyclic carbenes are summarized, the reactivity of these carbenes is explored, and the spectroscopic, structural and electrochemical properties of the carbene derivatives are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.