Synthesis and Electrochemical Anion-Sensing Properties of a Biferrocenyl-Functionalized Dendrimer

The synthesis and electrochemical anion-sensing properties of a diaminobutane poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer functionalized with biferrocenyl units 2 are presented. The redox activity of the ferrocenyl centers in 2 has been characterized by cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic and square wave voltammetric investigations demonstrate that tetraferrocenyl compound 2 and the reference compound 1 show electrochemical anion-sensing action: they display a cathodic shift of the ferrocene ferrocenium redox couple with dihydrogenphosphate and hydrogensulfate anions in solution and immobilized onto electrode surfaces.