Noninteracting redox centers

Scheme 8.8. Silane-based dendrimers have been used for scaffolding of ferrocenyl units described as noninteracting redox centers.

Flanagan JB, Margel S, Bard AJ, Anson FC (1978) Electron transfer to and from molecules containing multiple, noninteracting redox centers. Electrochemical oxidation of poly (vinylferrocene). J Am Chem Soc 100 4248 253... 

Without doubt, the most noteworthy aspect of the redox behavior of the synthesized organometallic dendritic macromolecules 1-6, having a predetermined number of noninteracting ferrocenyl redox centers, is their ability to modify electrode surfaces. In this way, for the first time, electrode surfaces have been successfully modified with films of dendrimers containing reversible four- and eight-electron redox systems, resulting in detectable electroactive materials persistently attached to the electrode surfaces. ... 

Multiple identical noninteracting redox-active centers in a large globular structure like dendrimer cannot be simultaneously in contact with or in close proximity with the electrode surface. Thus the electron transfer must involve their rotation and/or electron hopping mechanism within the measurement time... 

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