Chemistry and creativity Organic Chemistry, 7th EditionFrancis A. Carey
Organic Chemistry, 7th Edition
Chemists are increasingly concerned with preparing compounds designed to have particular properties.
The compound featured on the cover is the creation of Dr. Dirk Guldi of the University of Erlangen (Germany) and Dr. Maurizio Prato of the University of Trieste (Italy). The cylindrical object is a form of carbon known as a nanotube.* About 1 percent of the carbons of this nanotube are linked to molecules of
the organometallic “sandwich” compound ferrocene.On irradiation with visible light, ferrocene transfers an electron to the nanotube, generating a charge-separated species. Thus, nanotubes that bear appropriate attached groups hold promise as materials suitable for devices, such as solar cells, that are capable of converting sunlight to electricity.
