Homotrimetallic Oxazolo-Ferrocene Complexes Displaying Tunable Cooperative Interactions between Metal Centers and Redox-Switchable Character

A general and practical route to 4,5-disubstituted oxazoles using acid chlorides and isocyanides

An efficient and mild method for the synthesis of 4,5-di-substituted oxazolesvia[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of isocyanides and acid chlorides is reported.

Synthesis, Electrochemical, and Optical Properties of Linear Homo- and Heterometallocene Triads

The synthesis, electrochemical, and optical properties of homo- (5, 8, 9, and 12) and heterometallic (6, 7, 10, and 11) ferrocene-ruthenocene triads, are presented. Triferrocenyl derivatives 5 and 9 form the mixed-valence species 5*+ and 92+ by partial oxidation, which show intramolecular electro-transfer phenomena. Interestingly, spectroelectrochemical studies of compound 11, bearing two peripheral ferrocene units and one central ruthenocene moiety, revealed the presence of low-energy bands in the near-infrared (NIR) region, which indicate a rather unusual intramolecular charge-transfer between the ferrocene and ruthenocene units. The value of the electronic coupling parameter V(ab) = 150 cm(-1) calculated by deconvolution of the observed Fe(II)-Fe(III) IVCT transition in the mixed-valence compound 11*+, (d(Fe(II)-Fe(III)) = 18.617 A), indicates the ability of the ruthenocene system to promote a long distance intervalence electron-transfer. Moreover, the reported triads show selective cation sensing properties. Triads 5, 9, and 11 behave as dual redox and optical chemosensors for Zn(2+), Hg(2+), and Pb(2+). Their oxidation redox peaks are anodically shifted (up to 130 mV), and their low-energy (LE) bands of the absorption spectra are red-shifted (up to 115 nm) upon complexation with these metal cations. These changes in the absorption spectra are accompanied by dramatic color changes which allow the potential for "naked eye" detection.

Electroactive thiazole derivatives capped with ferrocenyl units showing charge-transfer transition and selective ion-sensing properties: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The synthesis, optical and electrochemical properties, and X-ray characterization of two thiazole derivatives capped by ferrocenyl groups (5 and 7) and their model compounds with one ferrocenyl, either at 2 or 5 position of the mono- or bis-thiazolyl rings (3, 9, 11, and 14), are presented. Bisferrocenyl thiazole 5 forms the mixed-valence species 5*+ by partial oxidation which, interestingly, shows an intramolecular electron-transfer phenomenon. Moreover, the reported heteroaromatic compounds show selective ion-sensing properties. Thus, ferrocenylthiazoles linked across the 5 position of the heteroaromatic ring are selective chemosensors for Hg2+ and Pb2+ metal ions; 5-ferrocenylthiazole 3 operates through two channels, optical and redox, for Hg2+ and only optical for Pb2+, whereas 1,1'-bis(thiazolyl)ferrocene 14 is only an optical sensor for both metal ions. Moreover, complex 3 behaves as an electrochemically induced switchable chemosensor because of the low metal-ion affinity of the oxidized 3*+ species. On the other hand, ferrocenylthiazole 9, in which the heterocyclic ring and the ferrocene group are linked across the 2 position, is a selective redox sensor for Hg2+ metal ions, and it responds optically, as does bis(thiazolyl)ferrocene 11, to a narrow range of cations (Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+). Finally, bis(ferrocenyl)thiazole 5 is a dual optical and redox sensor for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+, whereas bis(ferrocenyl) compound 7, bearing a bis(thiazole) unit as a bridge, is only a chromogenic sensor for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+. The experimental data and conclusions about both the electronic and ion-sensing properties are supported by DFT calculations which show, in addition, an unprecedented intramolecular electron-transfer reorganization after the first one-electron oxidation of compound 5.

A new hexaferrocene complex with a [M3(mu3-O)]7+ core

The new hexaferrocene complex 1 has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Its magnetization data were fitted to a detailed theoretical model that considers nonequivalent exchange parameters between Fe ions to yield the magnetic exchange coupling values of J1/kB = -31.5 K and J2/kB = -25.8 K. Moreover, the cyclic voltammogram of complex 1 confirmed its redox activity associated with the presence of ferrocene units, with very small or negligible electronic interactions between them.

Redox-active biomolecular architectures and self-assembled monolayers based on a cyclodecapeptide regioselectively addressable functional template

A nanometer scale redox active biomolecular architecture has been successfully synthesized through an efficient chemoselective oxime based coupling between ferrocenyl groups and a regioselectively addressable cyclodecapeptide. This molecular tool exhibits electronic, structural, and chemical properties driven by the biomimetic recognition activity of the polypeptide skeleton associated to the well-defined electrochemical activity of metallocenyl probes. Biomolecular materials obtained by confinement of the redox cyclopeptide in self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces shows efficient through-bond electron transfer from the ferrocenes to the electrode surface via the peptidic backbone, as well as markedly improved sensing properties toward anionic species in organic electrolyte, as compared to those observed in homogeneous solution.

Multifunctional Linear Triferrocene Derivatives Linked by Oxidizable Bridges: Optical, Electronic, and Cation Sensing Properties

[structure: see text]. A novel linear triferrocene derivative has been prepared and proven to be of special interest in the study of intramolecular electron transfer and as a specific optical and electrosensor for Mg(2+) cation.

Modulation of the metal recognition properties of a new type of azaferrocenophane-based chemosensors: co-ordination chemistry towards Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+and Ni2+

The structure-redox chemistry relationship of a new type of azaferrocenophane-based chemosensors, 3 and 4, in the presence of protons and several kinds of metal ions, has been studied. Electrochemical studies, carried out in CH2Cl2, in the presence of increasing amounts of Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ showed that the wave corresponding to the Fc/Fc+ couple of the uncomplexed ligands is gradually replaced by a new reversible wave at more positive potentials corresponding to the Fc/Fc+ couple of the complexed ligands. The maximum shift of the ferrocene oxidation wave was found for 4b in the presence of Mg2+, whereas for 3f a selective sensing response for Mg2+ in the presence of hydrated Ca2+ cations was observed, with a concomitant highly visual output response consisting of a deep purple colour.

Synthesis and conformational analysis of optically active ferrocene containing macrocyclic peptides

Two macrocyclic peptides 3 and 4 were formed during lactamization of 1,1'-ferrocenylbis(alanine) 1. Isolation, structure determination, and conformational analysis of 3 and 4 are reported as well as a controlled stepwise synthesis of 4 also including an improved route to 1. On the basis of their (1)H NMR spectra recorded at 300 K in DMSO-d(6), the dimer 3 and trimer 4 were found to be C(2) and C(3) symmetric, respectively. As appeared from computational analysis, the low-energy conformations of the macrocyclic peptides were nonsymmetric. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that the ferrocenyl moieties in 3 or 4 are electrochemically equal to ferrocene.