IIT-M, IISc team creates first carbon-free ‘ferrocene sandwich’

Chennai: Researchers from IIT Madras and IISc have synthesized the first carbon-free version of ferrocene, a landmark compound that launched organometallic chemistry more than 70 years ago.

The new molecule replaces the carbon rings in the classic structure with boron, forming a boron-osmium sandwich. Ferrocene consists of an iron atom held between two flat carbon rings. Since its discovery, chemists have tried to create a fully inorganic version without carbon atoms.

“Just as ferrocene started a new era in organometallics, these results will start a new era in inorganometallics,” said IIT Madras professor Sundargopal Ghosh.

The team also identified an alternative configuration, or isomer, of the boron-osmium sandwich. An illustration released with the study shows both structures.

Ferrocene and its derivatives have applications in materials science and medicine. The carbon-free analog could open new routes in catalysis, electronic materials, and drug design by expanding the chemistry of metal-boron systems.