Ferrocenska

Ferrocene is an organometallic compound with the formula Fe(C5H5)2. It consists of a central iron atom sandwiched between two cyclopentadienyl rings. This "sandwich" structure is a defining feature and was a groundbreaking discovery in chemistry. The iron atom is covalently bonded to the delocalized pi electron systems of the aromatic cyclopentadienyl rings.

Ferrocene is a stable, orange crystalline solid at room temperature. It is soluble in many organic solvents but insoluble in water. Its discovery in 1951 by Kealy and Pauson and independently by Miller et al. revolutionized the field of organometallic chemistry, leading to the development of many other metallocene compounds. The unique structure and stability of ferrocene led to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1973 for Ernst Otto Fischer and Geoffrey Wilkinson, who extensively studied ferrocene and related sandwich compounds.

Due to its stability, ferrocene has found applications as an additive in gasoline to improve combustion and reduce knocking, although its use in this area has declined due to environmental concerns. It also serves as a precursor in the synthesis of other organometallic compounds and polymers, and is used in catalysis and materials science. Its electronic properties are also of interest for electrochemical applications.