Oligonuclear Ferrocene Amides: Mixed‐Valent Peptides and Potential Redox‐Switchable Foldamers

New Ferrocene-Based Metalloligand with Two Triazole Carboxamide Pendant Arms and Its Iron(II) Complex: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, 57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Magnetic Properties and Theoretical Calculations

The new ferrocene-based metalloligand bis (N-4-[3,5-di-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoyl])ferrocene carboxamide (L) was prepared through derivatization of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid with 4-amino-3,5-di(pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole. The composition and purity of L in the solid state was determined with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and its crystal structure with single-crystal X-ray analysis, which revealed that the substituted cyclopentadienyl rings adopt the antiperiplanar conformation and the crystal structure of L is stabilized by O–H···N and N–H···O hydrogen bonds. The molecular properties of L in solution were investigated with NMR and UV-VIS spectroscopies, and cyclic voltammetry disclosed irreversible redox behavior providing one oxidation peak at E1/2 = 1.133 V vs. SHE. Furthermore, the polymeric FeII complex {Fe(L)(C(CN)3)2}n (1) was prepared and characterized with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The last two methods confirmed that a mixture of low- and high-spin species is present in 1; however, the spin crossover properties were absent. The presented study was also supported by theoretical calculations at the DFT/TD-DFT level of theory using TPSS and TPSSh functionals.

Flat, Cα,β -Didehydroalanine Foldamers with Ferrocene Pendants: Assessing the Role of α-Peptide Dipolar Moments

The foldamer field is continuously expanding as it allows to produce molecules endowed with 3D-structures and functions never observed in nature. We synthesized flat foldamers based on the natural, but non-coded, Cα,β -didehydroalanine α-amino acid, and covalently linked to them two ferrocene (Fc) moieties, as redox probes. These conjugates retain the flat and extended conformation of the 2.05 -helix, both in solution and in the crystal state (X-ray diffraction). Cyclic voltammetry measurements agree with the adoption of the 2.05 -helix, characterized by a negligible dipole moment. Thus, elongated α-peptide stretches of this type are insulators rather than charge conductors, the latter being constituted by peptide α-helices. Also, our homo-tetrapeptide has a N-to-C length of about 18.2 Å, almost double than that (9.7 Å) of an α-helical α-tetrapeptide.

Electronic structure and bridge geometric distortion in push–pull imine-bridged triads. A theoretical study

Intramolecular electron transfer (IET) in imine-bridged triads is studied by analyzing electric charge distribution and ferrocene and bridge distortion parameters.

Polysubstituted ferrocenes as tunable redox mediators

A series of four ferrocenyl ester compounds, 1-methoxycarbonyl- (1), 1,1’-bis(methoxycarbonyl)- (2), 1,1’,3-tris(methoxycarbonyl)- (3) and 1,1’,3,3’-tetrakis(methoxycarbonyl)ferrocene (4), has been studied with respect to their potential use as redox mediators. The impact of the number and position of ester groups present in 1–4 on the electrochemical potential E_1/2 is correlated with the sum of Hammett constants. The 1/1⁺–4/4⁺ redox couples are chemically stable under the conditions of electrolysis as demonstrated by IR and UV–vis spectroelectrochemical methods. The energies of the C=O stretching vibrations of the ester moieties and the energies of the UV–vis absorptions of 1–4 and 1⁺–4⁺ correlate with the number of ester groups. Paramagnetic ¹H NMR redox titration experiments give access to the chemical shifts of 1⁺–4⁺ and underline the fast electron self-exchange of the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couples, required for rapid redox mediation in organic electrosynthesis.

Application of the Curtius rearrangement to the synthesis of 1′-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid derivatives

The shortest synthesis of N-protected 1′-aminoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid from readily available ferrocene-1,1′-dicarboxylic acid is reported.

Reversible conversion between a pleated oligo-tetrathiafulvalene radical foldamer and folded donor-acceptor [3]pseudorotaxane under redox conditions

Linear tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) oligomers were synthesized, which could not only form a pleated TTF˙⁺ radical cation foldamer under oxidation conditions, but also interlocked with CBPQT⁴⁺ to form folded donor-acceptor [3]pseudorotaxane in the neutral state of TTF. Moreover, switchable transformation between these two folded supramolecular structures was achieved under the alternative regulation of the redox states of TTF units.

Ferrocene-containing non-interlocked molecular machines

Ferrocene is chemically robust and readily functionalized which enables its facile incorporation into more complex molecular systems. This coupled with ferrocene's reversible redox properties and ability to function as a “molecular ball bearing” has led to the use of ferrocene as a component in wide range of non-interlocked synthetic molecular machine systems.

Electronic coupling mediated by furan, thiophene, selenophene and tellurophene in a homologous series of organic mixed valence compounds

Charge delocalization in the mixed-valent monocationic forms of phenothiazine-decorated chalcogenophenes is explored by cyclic voltammetry, optical absorption and EPR spectroscopy. Single units of furan, thiophene, selenophene and tellurophene are found to mediate electronic coupling between the phenothiazines attached to their 2- and 5-positions roughly equally well. Electronic communication seems to occur mostly through the butadiene-like backbone of the chalcogenophenes.

Diferrocenyl tosyl hydrazone with an ultrastrong NH⋯Fe hydrogen bond as double click switch

The intramolecular NH⋯Fe hydrogen bond in diferrocenyl hydrazone 2 raises the barrier for intramolecular electron transfer in its mixed-valent cation 2+ and is only disrupted by double oxidation to 22+.

Intramolecular electron transfer between molybdenum and iron mimicking bacterial sulphite dehydrogenase

Diferrocenyl/diferrocenium substituted dioxido molybdenum(VI) complexes [Fe2MoO2] 2(Fc)/[2(FC)]²⁺ mimic the catalytic active site including the redox subunits as well as the catalytic function of bacterial sulphite oxidases.

Conformation-determined through-bond versus through-space electronic communication in mixed-valence systems with a cross-conjugated urea bridge

Bis-triarylamine 2 and cyclometalated diruthenium 6(PF6)2 with a linear trans,trans-urea bridge have been prepared, together with the bis-triarylamine 3 and cyclometalated diruthenium 8(PF6)2 with a folded cis,cis-N,N-dimethylurea bridge. The linear or folded conformations of these molecules are supported by single-crystal X-ray structures of 2, 3, and other related compounds. These compounds display two consecutive anodic redox waves (N(·+/0) or Ru(III/II) processes) with a potential separation of 110-170 mV. This suggests that an efficient electronic coupling is present between two redox termini through the cross-conjugated urea bridge. The degree of electronic coupling has been investigated by using spectroelectrochemical measurements. Distinct intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) transitions have been observed for mixed-valent (MV) compounds with a linear conformation. The IVCT transitions can also be identified for the folded MV compounds, albeit with a much weaker intensity. DFT results support that the electronic communication occurs by a through-bond and through-space pathway for the linear and folded compounds, respectively. The IVCT transitions of the MV compounds have been reproduced by TDDFT calculations. For the purpose of comparison, a bistriarylamine and a diruthenium complex with an imidazolidin-2-one bridge and a urea-containing mono-triarylamine and monoruthenium complex have been synthesized and studied.

Redox-dependent conformational switching of diphenylacetylenes

Herein we describe the design and synthesis of a redox-dependent single-molecule switch. Appending a ferrocene unit to a diphenylacetylene scaffold gives a redox-sensitive handle, which undergoes reversible one-electron oxidation, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry analysis. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy of the partially oxidized switch and control compounds suggests that oxidation to the ferrocenium cation induces a change in hydrogen bonding interactions that results in a conformational switch.

Sandwich complex-containing macromolecules: property tunability through versatile synthesis

Sandwich complexes feature unique properties as the physical and electronic properties of a hydrocarbon ligand or its derivative are integrated into the physical, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of a metal. Incorporation of these complexes into macromolecules results in intriguing physical, electrical, and optical properties that were hitherto unknown in organic-based macromolecules. These properties are tunable through well-designed synthetic strategies. This review surveys many of the synthetic approaches that have resulted in tuning the properties of sandwich complex-containing macromolecules. While the past two decades have seen an ever-growing number of research publications in this field, gaps remain to be filled. Thus, we expect this review to stimulate research interest towards bridging these gaps, which include the insolubility of some of these macromolecules as well as expanding the scope of the sandwich complexes.

Variable coordination of redox-active TCNB in discrete and polymeric ferrocenylcopper(I) complexes: structures and spectroelectrochemical behaviour

1,2,4,5-Tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) was reacted with [Cu(dppf)(CH3CN)2](BF4) and [Cu(dchpf)(CH3CN)](BF4), dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and dchpf = 1,1'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ferrocene, to produce a heterotetranuclear metallamacrocycle 1, {[Cu(dppf)(μ-TCNB)](BF4)}2, and a heterooctanuclear complex 2, [{Cu(dchpf)}4(μ4-TCNB)](BF4)4. Complex 1 is the first example of a structurally characterised discrete transition metal complex of TCNB. Upon crystallisation attempts, compound 2 formed the structurally identified coordination polymer 3, {[Cu(dchpf)(μ-TCNB)]2(BF4)2}n. Structural and spectroscopic analyses confirmed the redox-innocent behaviour of TCNB in 1, 2 and 3. However, the soluble compounds 1 and 2 could be oxidised and reduced spectroelectrochemically (UV-vis, IR, and EPR). The oxidation occurs invariably at the ferrocene sites without notable splitting of redox potentials. Reduction involves the TCNB bridging ligands to produce radical complexes. As a variably bridging acceptor component of supramolecular structures the TCNB ligand thus adopts an intermediate position between the highly electron transfer-active TCNE, TCNQ and TCNQF4 systems and the numerous redox-innocent bridges.