Synthesis and structures of the new biferrocenamine-based receptor and its characterization of electrochemical recognition of transition metal ions

In this paper, the new biferrocenamine-base receptor FcL was prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure of FcL was also described. It belongs to monoclinic system P21/n space group, a = 7.7113(1 5) Å, b = 10.329(2) Å, c = 18.753(4) Å, α = 90°, β = 98.52(3)°, γ = 90°, V = 1477.2(5) Å3, Z = 2. The electrochemical studies reveal that the FcL show different redox processes (labelled with I, II, III) occurring at different potentials. The process III is quite an unexpected result, so we give rise to the assumption. Besides, the main interest in the receptors is that FcL show a two-wave behavior for Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+, but was unresponsive to Mg2+ and Ca2+, suggesting that there is a selective sensing response.