The synthesis and properties of bis-1,1′-(porphyrinyl)ferrocenes

Assembly, structure and thermoelectric properties of 1,1'-dialkynylferrocene 'hinges'

Dialkynylferrocenes exhibit attractive electronic and rotational features that make them ideal candidates for use in molecular electronic applications. However previous works have primarily focussed on single-molecule studies, with limited opportunities to translate these features into devices. In this report, we utilise a variety of techniques to examine both the geometric and electronic structure of a range of 1,1'-dialkynylferrocene molecules, as either single-molecules, or as self-assembled monolayers. Previous single molecule studies have shown that similar molecules can adopt an 'open' conformation. However, in this work, DFT calculations, STM-BJ experiments and AFM imaging reveal that these molecules prefer to occupy a 'hairpin' conformation, where both alkynes point towards the metal surface. Interestingly we find that only one of the terminal anchor groups binds to the surface, though both the presence and nature of the second alkyne affect the thermoelectric properties of these systems. First, the secondary alkyne acts to affect the position of the frontier molecular orbitals, leading to increases in the Seebeck coefficient. Secondly, theoretical calculations suggested that rotating the secondary alkyne away from the surface acts to modulate thermoelectric properties. This work represents the first of its kind to examine the assembly of dialkynylferrocenes, providing valuable information about both their structure and electronic properties, as well as unveiling new ways in which both of these properties can be controlled.

Synthesis, spectral, and structural studies of porphyrins having sterically hindered [η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4)] cobalt sandwich units at the meso positions

Synthesis, spectral, and structural studies of the first examples of porphyrins substituted at the meso positions with sterically hindered η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4) cobalt sandwich units are described. The novel dipyrromethane derived cobalt sandwich compound {η(5)-[(C4H4N)2CH]C5H4}Co(η(4)-C4Ph4) 1, as well as its parent aldehyde, η(5)-[C5H4(CHO)]Co(η(4)-C4Ph4), were used in the synthesis of porphyrins having one or two η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4) groups at their meso positions. 1,9-Diformyldipyrromethane derived η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4) 2 was synthesized using dipyrromethane 1 under Vilsmeier conditions. A reaction of 2 with unsubstituted dipyrromethane under basic conditions in the presence of Pd(C6H5CN)2Cl2 yielded an A-type palladium coordinated porphyrin 3 [where A = η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4)]. A similar reaction of 2 with meso aryl and ferrocenyl-substituted dipyrromethanes yielded trans-AB type palladium coordinated porphyrins 4-6 [where A = η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4) and B = 4-tert-butylphenyl 4, ferrocenyl 5, and pentafluorophenyl 6]. Reactions of 2 with 5-ferrocenyl dipyrromethane under the same reaction conditions in the presence of Ni(acac)2 and Zn(OAc)2 gave the trimetallic nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexed trans-AB type porphyrins 7 and 8 having both cobalt and iron sandwich units at the meso positions. Crystal structure of the Pd(II) porphyrin 5 and nickel(II) porphyrin 7 showed nonplanar structures having distinct ruffle type distortion of the porphyrin ring. Demetalation of the zinc(II) trans-AB type porphyrin 8 in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid gave the metal free base porphyrin 9. Reactions of the cobalt sandwich aldehyde [(η(5)-C5H4(CHO)]Co(η(4)-C4Ph4) with sterically hindered dipyrromethane derivatives under acid-catalyzed condensation reactions gave trans-A2B2 type porphyrins [where A = η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4) and B = pentafluorophenyl, 10 mesityl 11]. In contrast, reactions of [η(5)-C5H4(CHO)]Co(η(4)-C4Ph4) with sterically unhindered meso-4-tert-butylphenyl dipyrromethane resulted in both AB3 12 and cis-A2B2 13 type porphyrins [where A = η(5)-CpCo(η(4)-C4Ph4) and B = (4-tert-butylphenyl] as a result of scrambling. The new porphyrin derivatives have been structurally characterized, and their spectral and electrochemical features were determined.

Long-range electronic connection in picket-fence like ferrocene-porphyrin derivatives

The effects of a direct connection between ferrocene and porphyrin units have been thoroughly investigated by electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. These data not only reveal that substitution of the porphyrin macrocycle by one, two, three or four ferrocenyl groups strongly affects the electronic properties of the porphyrin and ferrocenyl moieties, they also clearly demonstrate that the metallocene centres are "connected" through the porphyrin-based electronic network. The dynamic properties of selected ferrocene-porphyrin conjugates have been investigated by VT NMR and metadynamic calculations. 1,3-Dithiolanyl protecting groups have been introduced on the upper rings of the ferrocene fragments to allow a straightforward and easy access to redox active picket-fence porphyrins. X-ray diffraction analyses of the zinc(II) 5-[1'-[2-(1,3-dithiolanyl)]ferrocenyl]-10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin and 5,15-bis[1'-[2-(1,3-dithiolanyl)]ferrocenyl]-10,20-bis(p-tolyl)porphyrin complexes reveal the existence of S-Zn bonds involved in supramolecular arrays. The solid state analysis of the trans-5,15-di-(1'-(formyl)ferrocenyl)-10,20-di-(p-tolyl)-porphyrinatozinc(II) complex, obtained by deprotection of the dithiolane substituted analog, is conversely found in the crystal lattice as a monomer exhibiting a hexacoordinated zinc metal centre.

Porphyrins with β,β'-fused five-membered rings

Recent studies involving porphyrin systems bearing fused five-membered rings are reviewed, these including pyrrolo[3,4-b]porphyrins and fused metallocenoporphyrins. Diels-Alder cycloadditions between pyrroloporphyrins, to give benzoporphyrins, are discussed. The syntheses of mono-, and the two regioisomers (adj- and opp-) of bis-sulfolenoporphyrins are then discussed and their reactions with dienophiles such as dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate are outlined.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Studies of β,β‘-Fused Metallocenoporphyrins

Beta,beta'-Fused monoruthenocenylporphyrins, Cp*Ru(III)[1,2-[M(II)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-porphyrinato]-3-methyl-cyclopentadienide] (M = Ni (20), Cu (21), Zn (22)), and bisferrocenoporphyrins, Fe(II) bis[1,2-[M(II)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato]-3-methyl-cyclopentadienide] (M = Ni (24), Cu (25), Zn (26)), were synthesized and characterized. A novel synthetic approach to beta,beta'-fused porphyrins through Pd(0)-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition was implemented in this work. UV-vis spectra of these compounds show largely broadened and red-shifted bands (relative to their precursors) indicating potential electronic communication between the attached organometallic moiety and the porphyrin core. The electrochemistry of these molecules suggests significant electronic interactions between the metallocene and metalloporphyrin in molecules 20 and 24. The crystal structure of the bisferrocenoporphyrin 26, Fe(II) bis[1,2-[Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato]-3-methyl-cyclopentadienide], was determined: [Cp2Fe[ZnTPP(THF)]2][Cp2Fe[ZnTPP(THF)ZnTPP(MeOH)]].3MeOH.6THF, M = 3804.35, monoclinic, space group P21/c, a = 33.327(5) A, b = 19.145(3) A, c = 29.603(5) A, beta = 106.309(2) degrees , V = 18128(5) A3, Z = 4. In this molecule, one porphyrin ring is rotated by about 72 degrees with respect to the other in the 5-fold axis of the Cp ring.