A chelating bis(aminophenol) ligand bridged by a 1,1'-ferrocene-bis(para-phenylene) linker.

1,1'-Bis(4-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)aminophenyl)ferrocene (pFlipH) is prepared in three steps from commercially available 1,1'-ferrocenediboronic acid or its pinacol ester. The suitability of the ligand to bind as a tetradentate ligand in a cis, planar fashion has been confirmed by formation of a square planar palladium bis-iminosemiquinone (pFlip)Pd. The linker unit appears to be structurally similar to 1,1'-ferrocenediyl, but the electronic interaction of the ferrocene with the aminophenols is minimal.