We describe the synthesis and liquid-crystalline properties of two ferrocene-containing liquid-crystalline dendrimers of second generation, which differentiate by the position of the ferrocene unit within the structure and by the nature of the mesomorphic promoters. Both dendrimers gave rise to smectic phases in agreement with their structures. The title compounds were prepared by applying a convergent synthesis. To cite this article: T. Chuard et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).