ferrocene

[ fer-uh-seen ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. Also called dicyclopentadienyliron. an orange, crystalline, water-insoluble coordination compound, (C 5 H 5 ) 2 Fe, having a camphorlike odor: used chiefly as an antiknock agent for gasoline and as a catalyst. Compare metallocene.
2. Also called dicyclopentadienyl metal. any of a class of analogous compounds containing a metal other than iron, as nickel or osmium.

ferrocene

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferrocene¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferrocene¹

C20: from ferro- + c ( yclopentadi ) ene

Example Sentences

The researchers used ferrocene and tetrathiafulvalene as electron donor molecules, which were absorbed through the windows of the nanotube crystals.

From Science Daily

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

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

From Science Daily

In this state, they discovered that ferrocene could bind to the gold electrodes used to connect the molecule to the external circuitry.

From Science Daily

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

From Science Daily