Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Lewis Base-Free Monolithioferrocene

Stepwise reduction of a base-stabilised ferrocenyl aluminium(iii) dihalide for the synthesis of structurally-diverse dialane species

We report the reduction of bulky ferrocenyl-based NHC-stabilised aluminium(iii) diiodide [Fc*(NHC)AlI2] (Fc* = 2,5-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-1-ferrocenyl) in different hydrocarbon solvents (hexane, benzene, toluene, and p-xylene), which results in different outcomes. Reduction in hexane with an equivalent amount of KC8 generates the diiododialane [(Fc*(NHC)AlI)2], whereas complete reduction in hexane leads to an unusual C-H activation at an N-Me group of one NHC unit. In contrast, reaction in aromatic solvents result in hitherto unknown Birch-type reductions of the corresponding solvent molecules by transient aluminium radicals of the type [LAlR2]˙, which is ultimately bound to two aluminium centers.

Synthesis and Structures of 1,1′,2-Tribromoferrocene, 1,1′,2,2′-Tetrabromoferrocene, 1,1′,2,2′-Tetrabromoruthenocene: Expanding the Range of Precursors for the Metallocene Chemist’s Toolkit

The synthesis, characterisation, and isolation of 1,1′,2-tribromoferrocene and 1,1′,2,2′-tetrabromoferrocene, which are key synthons in ferrocene chemistry, are described. These compounds are prepared using α-halide assisted lithiation. The crystal structures of 1,1′,2-tribromoferrocene, 1,1′,2,2′-tetrabromoferrocene, 1,1′-dibromoruthenocene, and 1,1′,2,2′-tetrabromoruthenocene have been determined and are reported together with a brief discussion of the intramolecular forces involved in the crystal structures.

Generation of Bis(ferrocenyl)silylenes from Siliranes

Divalent silicon species, the so-called silylenes, represent attractive organosilicon building blocks. Isolable stable silylenes remain scarce, and in most hitherto reported examples, the silicon center is stabilized by electron-donating substituents (e.g., heteroatoms such as nitrogen), which results in electronic perturbation. In order to avoid such electronic perturbation, we have been interested in the chemistry of reactive silylenes with carbon-based substituents such as ferrocenyl groups. Due to the presence of a divalent silicon center and the redox-active transition metal iron, ferrocenylsilylenes can be expected to exhibit interesting redox behavior. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a bis(ferrocenyl)silirane as a precursor for a bis(ferrocenyl)silylene, which could potentially be used as a building block for redox-active organosilicon compounds. It was found that the isolated bis(ferrocenyl)siliranes could be a bottleable precursor for the bis(ferrocenyl)silylene under mild conditions.

Ferrocenyl-substituted low-coordinated heavier group 14 elements

Several examples of stable low-coordinated species of heavier group 14 elements (Si, Ge, Sb, Pb) such as divalent species and multiple-bond compounds have been reported. With the goal in mind to create unprecedented low-coordinated species of heavier group 14 elements that exhibit considerably increased redox stability, ferrocenyl (Fc)-substituted low-coordinated species of heavier group 14 elements were designed. In this short account article, recent progress on the synthesis of Fc-based low-coordinated species of heavier group 14 elements is summarized.

Scandium complexes with the tetraphenylethylene and anthracene dianions

The structural study of Sc complexes containing dianions of anthracene and tetraphenylethylene should shed some light on the nature of rare-earth metal-carbon bonding. The crystal structures of (18-crown-6)bis(tetrahydrofuran-κO)sodium bis(η⁶-1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethenediyl)scandium(III) tetrahydrofuran disolvate, [Na(C₄H₈O)₂(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)][Sc(C₂₆H₂₀)₂]·2C₄H₈O or [Na(18-crown-6)(THF)₂][Sc(η⁶-C₂Ph₄)₂]·2(THF), (1b), (η⁵-1,3-diphenylcyclopentadienyl)(tetrahydrofuran-κO)(η⁶-1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethenediyl)scandium(III) toluene hemisolvate, [Sc(C₁₇H₁₃)(C₂₆H₂₀)(C₄H₈O)]·0.5C₇H₈ or [(η⁵-1,3-Ph₂C₅H₃)Sc(η⁶-C₂Ph₄)(THF)]·0.5(toluene), (5b), poly[[(μ₂-η³:η³-anthracenediyl)bis(η⁶-anthracenediyl)bis(η⁵-1,3-diphenylcyclopentadienyl)tetrakis(tetrahydrofuran)dipotassiumdiscandium(III)] tetrahydrofuran monosolvate], {[K₂Sc₂(C₁₄H₁₀)₃(C₁₇H₁₃)₂(C₄H₈O)₄]·C₄H₈O}_n or [K(THF)₂]₂[(1,3-Ph₂C₅H₃)₂Sc₂(C₁₄H₁₀)₃]·THF, (6), and 1,4-diphenylcyclopenta-1,3-diene, C₁₇H₁₄, (3a), have been established. The [Sc(η⁶-C₂Ph₄)₂]^- complex anion in (1b) contains the tetraphenylethylene dianion in a symmetrical bis-η³-allyl coordination mode. The complex homoleptic [Sc(η⁶-C₂Ph₄)₂]^- anion retains its structure in THF solution, displaying hindered rotation of the coordinated phenyl rings. The 1D ¹H and ¹³C{¹H}, and 2D COSY ¹H-¹H and ¹³C-¹H NMR data are presented for M[Sc(Ph₄C₂)₂]·xTHF [M = Na and x = 4 for (1a); M = K and x = 3.5 for (2a)] in THF-d₈ media. Complex (5b) exhibits an unsymmetrical bis-η³-allyl coordination mode of the dianion, but this changes to a η⁴ coordination mode for (1,3-Ph₂C₅H₃)Sc(Ph₄C₂)(THF)₂, (5a), in THF-d₈ solution. A ⁴⁵Sc NMR study of (2a) and UV-Vis studies of (1a), (2a) and (5a) indicate a significant covalent contribution to the Sc-Ph₄C₂ bond character. The unique Sc ate complex, (6), contains three anthracenide dianions demonstrating both a η⁶-coordination mode for two bent ligands and a μ₂-η³:η³-bridging mode of a flat ligand. Each [(1,3-Ph₂C₅H₃)₂Sc₂(C₁₄H₁₀)₃]^2- dianionic unit is connected to four neighbouring units via short contacts with [K(THF)₂]⁺ cations, forming a two-dimensional coordination polymer framework parallel to (001).

A Redox-Active Bis(ferrocenyl)germylene and Its Reactivity

Bis(ferrocenyl)germylene Fc*₂ Ge: [2; Fc*=2,5-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-1-ferrocenyl] was isolated in the form of red crystals from the reaction of the sterically demanding ferrocenyl lithium dimer (Fc*Li)₂ and GeI₂ . Bis(ferrocenyl)germylene 2 exhibits extraordinary thermal stability in hydrocarbon solution and the solid state, as well as stable redox behavior. Moreover, it undergoes a ligand-redistribution reaction with GeCl₂ ⋅(dioxane) to afford the corresponding chlorogermylene, which was isolated upon coordination with PBu₃ .

Isolation and Ambident Reactivity of a Chlorogermylenoid

Treatment of 2,5-di(3,5-tert-butylphenyl)-1-lithioferrocene with GeCl₂ ⋅dioxane afforded the corresponding chlorogermylenoid that exhibited an ambident reactivity in different solvents; it displayed a behavior characteristic for a dichlorogermylene anion in THF, while it exhibited the typical reactivity of a chlorogermylene in toluene. X-Ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal of this chlorogermylenoid, obtained from recrystallization in THF, revealed a separated-ion-pair structure in the solid state.

Halide-Mediated Ortho-Deprotonation Reactions Applied to the Synthesis of 1,2- and 1,3-Disubstituted Ferrocene Derivatives

The ortho-deprotonation of halide-substituted ferrocenes by treatment with lithium tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP) has been investigated. Iodo-, bromo-, and chloro-substituted ferrocenes were easily deprotonated adjacent to the halide substituents. The synthetic applicability of this reaction was, however, limited by the fact that, depending on the temperature and the degree of halide substitution, scrambling of both iodo and bromo substituents at the ferrocene core took place. Iodoferrocenes could not be transformed selectively into ortho-substituted iodoferrocenes since, in the presence of LiTMP, the iodo substituents scrambled efficiently even at −78 °C, and this process had occurred before electrophiles had been added. Bromoferrocene and certain monobromo-substituted derivatives, however, could be efficiently ortho-deprotonated at low temperature and reacted with a number of electrophiles to afford 1,2- and 1,2,3-substituted ferrocene derivatives. For example, 2-bromo-1-iodoferrocene was synthesized by ortho-deprotonation of bromoferrocene and reaction with the electrophiles diiodoethane and diiodotetrafluoroethane, respectively. In this and related cases the iodide scrambling process and further product deprotonation due to the excess LiTMP could be suppressed efficiently by running the reaction at low temperature and in inverse mode. In contrast to the low-temperature process, at room temperature bromo substituents in bromoferrocenes scrambled in the presence of LiTMP. Chloro- and 1,2-dichloroferrocene could be ortho-deprotonated selectively, but in neither case was scrambling of a chloro substituent observed. As a further application of this ortho-deprotonation reaction, a route for the synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted ferrocenes was developed. 1,3-Diiodoferrocene was accessible from bromoferrocene in four steps. On a multigram scale an overall yield of 41% was achieved. 1,3-Diiodoferrocene was further transformed into symmetrically 1,3-disubstituted ferrocenes (1,3-R₂Fc; R = CHO, COOEt, CN, CH=CH₂).