Some ferrocenium salts exhibit anticancer activity, and an experimental drug has been reported which is a ferrocenyl version of tamoxifen.[33] The idea is that the tamoxifen will bind to the estrogen binding sites, resulting in a cytotoxicity effect.[33][34][35]
Materials chemistry
Ferrocene, being readily decomposed to iron nanoparticles, can be used as a catalyst for the production of carbon nanotubes.[36] The vinyl ferrocene from ferrocene can be made by a Wittig reaction of the aldehyde, a phosphonium salt and sodium hydroxide.[37] The vinyl ferrocene can be converted into a polymer which can be thought of as a ferrocenyl version of polystyrene (the phenyl groups are replaced with ferrocenyl groups).