Anion complexation and electrochemical behaviour of ferrocene-appended amido-pyrrole clefts

Two amido-pyrrole cleft anion receptors bearing two ferrocene reporter groups have been synthesised and crystallographically characterised; the receptors contain either a non-conjugated or conjugated link between the anion-binding amido-pyrrole unit and the ferrocene reporter groups. The anion binding affinities and electrochemical behaviour of the receptors in the absence and presence of anions have been studied by H-1 NMR titration techniques and cyclic voltammetry using a Pt microdisc working electrode, respectively.