The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the structures of discrete metal complexes with N-heterocyclic ferrocenes, based on their crystal structures. These N-heterocyclic ferrocenes act as versatile ligands for the construction of metal complexes with unique structures, owing to the pi center dot center dot center dot pi it interaction between the N-heterocycles and conformational flexibility of the ferrocenyl moiety. N-Heterocyclic ferrocenes coordinate to metal ions in monodentate, C,N-bidentate, multidentate, and bridging fashions, which results in metal complexes with various M:L stoichiometry. The ligands and their metal complexes have been recently employed for applications including chemical sensors, homogeneous catalysts, and redox-driven conformational switching. (C), 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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