Synthesis, characterization, and electronic properties of novel Fc-DCM conjugated system; experimental and computational studies

•2-(2-Ferrocenylvinyl-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-ylidine) malononitrile, in the form of donor–spacer–acceptor dyad were synthesized.•The electrochemical behaviour of synthesized compound and the electronic absorption spectra were studied in a variety of solvents.•Extensive calculations with various combinations of functionals were carried out to compute energy gap of novel dyad.•The combined functional and basis set approach PBE/6-31+G(d,p) was found to be well-behaved in the calculation of energy gap.•B3LYP/6-31G(d) method was applied to do TD-DFT calculations due to its good agreement with experimental data.

Novel Fc-DCM conjugated compound, 2-(2-ferrocenylvinyl-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-ylidine) malononitrile, in the form of donor–spacer–acceptor dyad has been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation. 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR, CHN analysis and along with atomic absorption spectroscopy supported the predicted structure of the product. The electrochemical behaviour of synthesized compound and the electronic absorption spectra were studied in a variety of solvents. Extensive calculations with various combinations of functionals were carried out to compute energy gap (Eg) of ferrocene derivative. The combined functional and basis set approach PBE/6-31+G(d,p) was found to be well-behaved in the calculation of energy gap. B3LYP/6-31G(d) method was applied to do TD-DFT calculations due to its good agreement with experimental data for prediction of UV–Vis spectra.

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