Electrochemically assisted anion insertion in Au(I)–Cu(I) heterotrimetallic clusters bearing ferrocenyl groups: Application to the fluoride/chloride discrimination in aqueous media

The heterotrimetallic Au(I)–Cu(I) aggregate [{Au3Cu2(C2C6H4Fc)6}Au3(PPh2C6H4PPh2)3](PF6)2 exhibits a well-defined solid state electrochemistry in contact with aqueous media, based on ferrocenyl-centred oxidation processes involving anion insertion. Upon attachment of microparticulate deposits of the cluster to graphite electrodes, distinctive electrochemical responses can be obtained for fluoride and chloride ions in aqueous media.