Electrochemistry of Group VI Metal Carbonyl Compounds Containing 1,1‘-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene

Biomimetics of [FeFe]-hydrogenases incorporating redox-active ligands: Synthesis, redox and spectroelectrochemistry of diiron-dithiolate complexes with ferrocenyl-diphosphines as Fe4S4 surrogates

[FeFe]-ase biomimics containing a redox-active ferrocenyl diphosphine have been prepared and their ability to reduce protons and oxidise H2 studied, including 1,1’-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) complexes Fe2(CO)4(-dppf)(-S(CH2)nS) (n = 2, edt; n...

Electrochemical Oxidation of W(CO)4(LL): Generation, Characterization, and Reactivity of [W(CO)4(LL)]+ (LL=α-diimine ligands)

The electrochemistry of a series of W(CO)4(LL) complexes, where LL is an aromatic α-diimine ligand, was examined in coordinating and weakly coordinating media using several techniques. These compounds undergo metal-centred one-electron oxidations and the electrogenerated radical cations undergo a range of subsequent chemical steps, the nature of which depends on the substituents of the α-diimine ligand and the presence of coordinating species. In CH2Cl2/TBAPF6, where TBAPF6 is n-tetrabutylammonium hexaflurophosphate, the bulk oxidations are partially reversible at scan rates of 0.25 V s−1; the resulting tungsten(i) radicals react via disproportionation and loss of carbonyl, the rate constants for which were measured by double-potential step chronocoulometry. Large-amplitude a.c. voltammetry experiments suggest that the one-electron oxidized species are in equilibrium with the corresponding disproportionation products. Steric crowding of the metal centre prolongs the lifetime of the radical cations, allowing the infrared spectroelectrochemical characterization of two [W(CO)4(LL)]+ species. Electrogenerated [W(CO)4(LL)]+ cations are highly susceptible to attack by potential ligands; oxidations performed in CH3CN/TBAPF6, for example, were chemically irreversible. Kinetic studies in weakly coordinating media show that near-stoichiometric amounts of added pyridine and acetonitrile are enough to greatly diminish the reversibility of the bulk oxidations; the dominant path of the coupled chemistry depends on the ligand strength, with substitution being the major reaction with added pyridine, whereas disproportionation is favoured by the presence of acetonitrile. A reaction scheme that provides an overall framework of the reactions followed by the radical cations is presented and discussed in the context of the previously observed chemistry of the molybdenum analogues.

Ferrocenyl-substituted Schiff base complexes of boron: synthesis, structural, physico-chemical and biochemical aspects

Biological important complexes of boron(III) derived from 1-acetylferrocenehydrazinecarboxamide (L1H), 1-acetylferrocenehydrazinecarbothioamide (L2H) and 1-acetylferrocene carbodithioic acid (L3H) have been prepared and investigated using a combination of microanalytical analysis, melting point, electronic, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectral studies, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray powder diffraction studies. Boron isopropoxide interacts with the ligands in 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 molar ratios (boron:ligand) resulting in the formation of coloured products. On the basis of conductance and spectral evidences, tetrahedral structures for boron(III) complexes have been assigned. The ligands are coordinated to the boron(III) via the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolic sulfur atom/enolic oxygen atom. On the basis of X-ray powder diffraction study one of the representative boron complex was found to have orthorhombic lattice, having lattice parameters: a=9.9700, b=15.0000 and c=7.0000. Both the ligands and their complexes have been screened for their biological activity on several pathogenic fungi and bacteria and were found to possess appreciable fungicidal and bactericidal properties. Plant growth regulating activity of one of the ligand and its complexes has also been recorded on gram plant, and results have been discussed.

Synthesis and cyclic voltammetric studies of diiron complexes, ER(2)[(eta-C(5)H(4))Fe(L(2))Me](2) (E = C, Si, Ge, Sn; R = H, alkyl; L(2) = diphosphine] and (eta-C(5)H(5))Fe(L(2))ER(2)Fc [Fc = (eta-C(5)H(4))Fe(eta-C(5)H(5))]

The cyclic voltammetric studies on ER(2)[(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))Fe(L(2))Me](2) (L(2) = dppe; ER(2) = CH(2) (1a), SiMe(2) (2a), GeMe(2) (3a), SnMe(2) (4a) revealed two well resolved reversible waves [(1)E(1/2) = -0.33 V, (2)E(1/2) = -0.20 V (for 1a); (1)E(1/2) = -0.35 V, (2)E(1/2) = -0.21 V (for 2a);(1)E(1/2) = -0.36 V, (2)E(1/2) = -0.23 V (for 3a);(1)E(1/2) = -0.36 V, (2)E(1/2) = -0.22 V (for 4a)] in CH(2)Cl(2) suggesting electronic communication between two iron centers which is seen for the first time in this family of organometallic complexes. The resolution between two reversible waves increases in the order of 1a < 2a < 3a < 4a; however, coordinating solvents such as pyridine, PhCN, DMSO and DMF decreased these interactions attributable to the stabilization of cationic species formed after the first oxidation. UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry of 1a-4a revealed two distinct absorbance patterns for both redox processes and reflected the stepwise oxidation. Homobimetallic complexes containing ferrocenyl groups, (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(L(2))ER(2)Fc [ER(2) = none, L(2) = cis-dppen (5a), ER(2) = SiMe(2), L(2) = cis-dppen (6a), dppm (6b); ER(2) = GeMe(2), L(2) = cis-dppen (7a), dppm (7b); ER(2) = Sn(t)Bu(2), L(2) = dmpe (8a); Fc = (eta(5)-C(5)H(4))Fe(eta(5)4-C(5)H(5))] were prepared and studied in terms of electrochemistry. The cyclic voltammogram of 5a exhibited two well resolved one electron reversible waves at (1)E(1/2) = -0.21 V and (2)E(1/2) = 0.58 V corresponding to oxidation of the Fe(P-P) and Fc iron atoms respectively. Other complexes in this series (6a/6b, 7a/7b, 8a) containing direct Fe-E-Fc (E = Si, Ge and Sn) bridging units were not stable under electrochemical conditions and rupture of the Fe-E bonds was observed.