Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of 2,3,4,5-Tetraphenyl-1-Monophosphaferrocene Derivatives

Heteroleptic 2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-monophosphaferrocene [FeCp(η5-PC4Ph4)] was obtained at a 62% yield through the reaction of lithium 2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-monophosphacyclopentadienide Li(PC4Ph4) (1) with [FeCp(η6-C6H5CH3)][PF6]. The structure of 1-monophosphaferrocene 2 and its W(CO)5-complex 3 were confirmed by multinuclear NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction study and further supported by DFT calculations. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that [FeCp(η5-PC4Ph4)] 2 has a quasi-reversible oxidation wave. The comparison of the properties of phosphaferrocene 2 with those of W(CO)5-complex 3 shows the possibility of changing the coordination type during oxidation.

Core-modified porphyrins: novel building blocks in chemistry

Various (metallo)porphyrins and related compounds have been intensively investigated by different research groups due to their extremely important role in living organisms along with their versatile applications in technology. The design of novel porphyrinoids by core-modification, or substitution of pyrrole nitrogens, with the elements of other groups of the Periodic Table has been considered as a highly promising methodology for tuning structures and properties of porphyrinoids and thus opening new possible applications for them. Much effort has been given to the modifications of the porphyrin core with elements of the main groups, namely O, S, Se (chalcogens), and the heavier congener of nitrogen, phosphorus. In general, the porphyrin core modification by replacing nitrogens with heteroatoms is a promising and effective strategy for obtaining new compounds with unusual structures and properties (optical, electrochemical, coordinating, etc.) as well as reactivity. These novel molecules can also be employed as promising building or construction blocks in various applications in the nanotechnology area.

Reactivity differences between 2,4- and 2,5-disubstituted zirconacyclopentadienes: a highly selective and general approach to 2,4-disubstituted phospholes

Mixtures of 2,4- and 2,5-disubstituted zirconacyclopentadienes were obtained by the reductive dimerisation of terminal alkynes using the Cp2ZrCl2/lanthanum system. Reactions of dihalophosphines with these mixtures afforded selectively the corresponding 2,4-disubstituted phospholes and 1,4-disubstituted butadienes. A new series of phospholes was characterized by multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. A possible explanation for the observed selectivity was obtained from X-ray studies and DFT analysis of the intermediate zirconacyclopentadienes.

New developments in chemistry of organometallic porphyrins and their analogs

In this mini-review, new developments in chemistry of organometallic porphyrins and their analogs reported between 2007 and mid 2012 have been discussed. Synthetic strategies for preparation, as well as properties of metallocenyl-type compounds in which organometallic substituents connected to the porphyrinoid via (i) axial coordination; (ii) covalent bond to meso- or β-pyrrolic position; or (iii) β,β′-fused into the aromatic system as well as porphyrinoids with organometallic fragments σ-bonded in η1-fashion were overviewed.