ferrocene

American  

[fer-uh-seen] / ˈfɛr əˌsin /

noun

Chemistry.

1. Also called dicyclopentadienyliron.  an orange, crystalline, water-insoluble coordination compound, (C 5 H5 ) 2 Fe, having a camphorlike odor: used chiefly as an antiknock agent for gasoline and as a catalyst.

2. Also called dicyclopentadienyl metal.  any of a class of analogous compounds containing a metal other than iron, as nickel or osmium.

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ferrocene British  

/ ˈfɛrəʊˌsiːn /

noun

1. a reddish-orange insoluble crystalline compound. Its molecules have an iron atom sandwiched between two cyclopentadiene rings. Formula: Fe(C 5 H 5 ) 2

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Etymology

Origin of ferrocene

First recorded in 1950–55; ferro- + c(yclopentadi)ene

Example Sentences

Last year, the group reported creating unusual 20 electron ferrocene derivatives.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

This study also shows the ability to turn on and off this contact by using light to change the oxidation state of the ferrocene, demonstrating a light-switchable ferrocene-based single-molecule device.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2024

Towards this goal, they decided to explore the use of organo-metallic iron-containing ferrocene molecules, which are also considered to be tiny building blocks in the world of nanotechnology.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2024

The team used a molecule terminated by a ferrocene group comprising two carbon-based cyclopentadienyl rings that sandwich an iron atom.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2024

Technically, oxidizing the ferrocene enabled the binding of a Au0 to an Fe3+ center.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2024