Incorporation of a First Row Element into the Bridge of a Strained Metallocenophane: Synthesis of a Boron-Bridged[1]Ferrocenophane

Hybrid materials comprising ferrocene and diaminoborane moieties: linear concatenation versus macrocyclization

Combination of borane and diaminoferrocene monomers by Si/B exchange condensation reactions afforded either diazabora-[3]ferrocenophanes or, via stepwise processes, larger macrocycles and a series of linear oligomers. Additional incorporation of p-phenylene moieties in the backbone yielded alternating concatenation.

Poly(ferrocenylene iminoborane): an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer comprising a backbone of moderately interacting ferrocenes

The first poly(ferrocenylene iminoborane), that is, a polyferrocene-based metallopolymer featuring CC-isoelectronic/-isosteric BN linking units, and a series of monodisperse ferrocenylene iminoborane oligomers are presented. Our studies provide important insight into the structural and electronic nature of this novel class of hybrid materials.

Linear and macrocyclic oligo(p-phenylene iminoboranes) with ferrocenyl side groups - observation of selective, non-templated macrocyclization

A series of linear oligo(p-phenylene iminoboranes), which are BN-modified congeners of oligo(p-phenylene vinylenes), featuring pendent ferrocene groups have been prepared. Stoichiometric reaction of a bis-silylamine with a bisborane led to selective formation of an unprecedented macrocycle, without the use of a template.

Facile Synthesis of Uranium Complexes with a Pendant Borane Lewis Acid and 1,2-Insertion of CO into a U-N Bond

In this contribution, we illustrate uranium complexes bearing a pendant borate (i.e. 1 and 2) or a pendant borane (i.e. 3 and 4) moiety via reaction of the highly strained uranacycle I with various 3-coordinate boranes. Complexes 3 and 4 represent the first examples of uranium complexes with a pendant borane Lewis acid. Moreover, complex 3 was capable of activation of CO, delivering a new CO activation mode, and an abnormal CO 1,2-insertion pathway into a U-N bond. The importance of the pendant borane moiety was confirmed by the controlled experiments.

Unique Bora[1]ferrocenophanes with Sterically Protected Boron: A Potential Gateway to Helical Polyferrocenes

Silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes are a versatile class of monomers to obtain well-defined metallopolymers, however, their boron-bridged analogues are far less utilized despite being significantly higher strained. We assumed that the reactivity of known bora[1]ferrocenophanes towards ring-opening polymerization is hampered by π-donating R₂ N groups at the bridging boron atom and therefore prepared the first bora[1]ferrocenophanes lacking such electronic stabilization. The new, isolated ferrocenophane with a 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl group attached to the bridging boron atom exhibits the most tilted Cp rings among all isolated strained sandwich compounds [α(DFT)=33.3°] with a measured record value of the bathochromic shift (λ_max =516 nm). Attempts to purify the mesityl analogue by vacuum sublimation transformed this monomer to a purple-colored polymer that resulted in Cotton effects in circular dichroism spectroscopy. DFT calculations revealed a left-handed helical structure for this polymer. This is the first evidence for a polyferrocene with a chiral secondary structure.

PBP bridged [3]ferrocenophane: a bisphosphanylborane with a redox trigger

Stereospecific access to the unprecedented P-B-P bridged [3]ferrocenophane Fe(C₅H₄PtBu)₂BMes is presented. In contrast to acyclic ferrocenylphosphanes, we find evidence for a shift of spin-density from Fe to P upon pyramidal inversion of the P centers in the mono-cation; the latter has a lifetime of τ = 0.31(4) s.

[n]Ferrocenophanes (n = 2, 3) with Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Bridging Positions

The in situ prepared dilithio derivative of the known species 1-bromo-1'-(trimethylsilylamino)ferrocene (1) reacted with tBuPCl2 to form the first example of a [2]ferrocenophane ([2]FCP) bridged by nitrogen and phosphorus (2). Sulfurization of 2 followed by column chromatography on silica gel gave the expected [2]FCP with a tBu(S)PN(SiMe3) bridging moiety (3a) and its desilylated counterpart with a tBu(S)PNH bridging moiety (3b). The molecular structure of 3b was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis (α = 18.40(11)°). Using a common synthetic methodology, two new 1-amino-1'-bromoferrocene derivatives were prepared, one species with a PhCH2 (6a) and another with a tBuCH2 group (6b) on nitrogen. Dilithiation of 6a followed by addition of tBuPCl2 gave a mixture of three constitutional isomers: the targeted [2]FCP (7a), the 1,1'-disubstituted ferrocene derivative (tBuPH)(PhCH═N)fc (8a), and the [3]FCP bridged by a (NH)(CHPh)PtBu moiety (9a). NMR spectroscopy revealed that 8a is the precursor for 9a. The salt-metathesis reaction of the dilithio derivative of 6b with tBuPCl2 exclusively gave the 1,1'-disubstituted ferrocene derivative (tBuPH)(tBuCH═N)fc (8b), which does not isomerize to the respective [3]FCP. DFT calculations at the M06/6-311+G(d,p) level were used to better rationalize these unexpected results.

Synthesis and structure of Ag(i), Pd(ii), Rh(i), Ru(ii) and Au(i) NHC-complexes with a pendant Lewis acidic boronic ester moiety

Synthesis and characterization of novel NHC-boronic ester ligands and their corresponding TM-complexes.

Strained metallocenophanes and related organometallic rings containing pi-hydrocarbon ligands and transition-metal centers

The structures, bonding, and ring-opening reactions of strained cyclic carbon-based molecules form a key component of standard textbooks. In contrast, the study of strained organometallic molecules containing transition metals is a much more recent development. A wealth of recent research has revealed fascinating nuances in terms of structure, bonding, and reactivity. Building on initial work on strained ferrocenophanes, a broad range of strained organometallic rings composed of a variety of different metals, pi-hydrocarbon ligands, and bridging elements has now been developed. Such strained species can potentially undergo ring-opening reactions to functionalize surfaces and ring-opening polymerization to form easily processed metallopolymers with properties determined by the presence of the metal and spacer. This Review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the preparation, structural characterization, electronic structure, and reactivity of strained organometallic rings with pi-hydrocarbon ligands and d-block metals.

Polyferrocenylsilane-Based Polymer Systems

The study of metallopolymers has blossomed into a mature field over the last few decades. Especially, polyferrocenylsilane (PFS) chemistry has taken a tremendous leap and continues to raise intense interest. Since the discovery of thermal ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of sila[1]ferrocenophanes, PFSs have been also accessed by anionic, cationic, transition-metal-catalyzed, and photolytic anionic ROP methodologies. A plethora of synthetic strategies have been devised, enabling access to a wide variety of copolymers, polyelectrolytes, and nanostructured materials. The distinctive physical properties and functions of many PFS-based polymers have been explored, leading to their apt exploitation in technical applications. Therefore, it is conceivable that PFS-related platforms might be indispensable nano-objects in the near future, as they stand on the verge of a new generation of sophisticated materials.