Photoreactivity and photopolymerization of silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes in the presence of terpyridine initiators: unprecedented cleavage of both iron-cyclopentadienyl bonds in the presence of chlorosilanes

The photopolymerisation of sila[1]ferrocenophane [Fe(eta-C5H4)2SiMe2] (3) with 4,4',4'-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (tBu3terpy) as initiator has been explored. High-molecular-weight polyferrocenylsilane (PFS) [{Fe(eta-C5H4)2SiMe2}n] (5) was formed in high yield when a stoichiometric amount of tBu3terpy was used at 5 degrees C. Photopolymerisation of ferrocenophane 3 at higher temperatures gave PFS 5 in lower yield and with a reduced molecular weight as a result of a slower propagation rate. Remarkably, when Me3SiCl was added as a capping agent before photopolymerisation, subsequent photolysis of the reaction mixture resulted in the unprecedented cleavage of both iron-Cp bonds in ferrocenophane 3: iron(II) complex [Fe(tBu3terpy)2Cl2] (7Cl) was formed and the silane fragment (C5H4SiMe3)2SiMe2 (8) was released. The iron-Cp bond cleavage reaction also proceeded in ambient light, although longer reaction times were required. In addition, the unexpected cleavage chemistry in the presence of Me3SiCl was found to be applicable to other photoactive ferrocenes such as benzoylferrocene. For benzoylferrocene and ferrocenophane 3, the presence of metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) character in their low-energy transitions in the visible region probably facilitates photolytic iron-Cp bond cleavage, but this reactivity is suppressed when the strength of the iron-Cp bond is increased by the presence of electron-donating substituents on the cyclopentadienyl rings.     

Reaction of 1,1′‐Divinyl Ferrocene with One‐Electron Oxidants: Entry into Functionalised [4]Ferrocenophanes and Observation of an Isotope‐Dependent Chemoselectivity Effect

1,1′‐Divinyl ferrocene ( 2 ) reacts with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] under basic biphasic conditions to give a [4]ferrocenophane ( 4 ) in good yield. Incorporating deuterium labels into the internal positions of the vinyl groups of 2 affects the chemoselectivity of the reaction; thus under identical reaction conditions, [D₂]‐ 2 reacts to provide a diol‐functionalised [4]ferrocenophane, [D₂]‐D /L ‐ 6 in addition to the expected keto‐alcohol, [D₁]‐ 4 . Variants on this one‐electron oxidative cyclisation methodology can be used to give other [4]ferrocenophanes; thus, the reaction of 2 with CuCl₂ in MeOH or iPrOH leads to dialkoxy [4]ferrocenophanes 19 and 20 , respectively, whereas the reaction of 2 with benzyl carbamate in the presence of tBuOCl gives a bis(carbamate)[4]ferrocenophane, 21 . Mechanisms to account for the formation of the products, the stereoselectivity, and the unusual isotope‐dependent chemoselectivity in the reaction of 2 and [D₂]‐ 2 with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] are proposed.     

Unusual carbamate-directed CH-activation at an annulated ferrocenophane framework

The tetrahydroazepine-annulated [3]ferrocenophane carbamate (4) was synthesized by two different linear routes starting from the readily available α-dimethylamino[3]ferrocenophane-ortho-carbaldehyde rac-6. The carbamate directed lithiation of 4 resulted in a selective attack at a (Cp)C-H bond at the higher substituted "lower" [3]ferrocenophane Cp-ring to eventually yield the respective ester (18) after treatment with ClCO(2)Me.     

Synthesis, computational modelling and liquid crystalline properties of some [3]ferrocenophane-containing Schiff’s bases and β-aminovinylketone: Molecular geometry-phase behaviour relationship

Rotationally fixed [3]ferrocenophane extends the variety of possible molecular geometries in its derivatives in comparison with unbridged ferrocenes. In this respect molecular geometry-liquid crystalline properties relationship studies in [3]ferrocenophane mesogens are of considerable interest. Different positional isomers of mono- and di-substituted [3]ferrocenophanes which are obtained by incorporating one or two promesogenic building blocks into the cyclopentadienyl rings are reported in this article. A series of mono-substituted [3]ferrocenophane-containing Schiff’s bases was synthesized by condensing isomeric p-aminophenyl [3]ferrocenophanes with appropriate aldehydes. Isomers of di-substituted [3]ferrocenophane amines gave rise to a series of azomethines with two promesogenic substituents in the cyclopentadienyl rings. Besides, a β-enaminoketone was prepared from 3-(p-aminophenyl)[3]ferrocenophane. Nematic and smectic mesophases were observed in the synthesized compounds under a polarizing optical microscope. The [3]ferrocenophane-containing β-enaminoketone showed complex mesomorphic behaviour connected with occurrence of the keto-enamine and imino-enol tautomeric equilibrium in this compound. On the base of computational models obtained by semi-empirical quantum chemistry calculations the molecular geometry-phase behaviour relationships were examined. It was demonstrated that mesomorphism of [3]ferocenophane azomethines depends on the spatial orientation of the substituents with respect to the propanediyl bridge in a case of mono-, and as well as to each other in a case of di-substituted derivatives.     

Studies on ferrocene derivatives XIX. The acylation of [m]-ferrocenophanes and 1,1′-diethylferrocene and the direct conversion of the acylferrocenes to ethers and alkenes

The Vilsmeir formylation of 1,1′-diethylferrocene, [3]- and [4]ferrocenophane has been shown to produce mainly, but not exclusively, the β-isomer and the ratio of β/α for the acetylation of [3]-ferrocenophane depends on the reagent used in the reaction. These aldehydes are directly converted to ethers by reduction with sodium borohydride in alcohol and also to alkenes via the Wittig reaction.     

Synthesis of [3]ferrocenophane-bridged Cp-amido zirconium complexes and ansa-zirconocene complexes and their use in catalytic polymerisation reactions

Starting from 1,1'-diacetylferrocene the ortho-amino,α-dimethylamino[3]ferrocenophane system 3 was prepared. This was converted to the o-imino,α-Cp-derivative 6. Subsequent treatment with e.g. an excess of methyllithium followed by ZrCl(2)(NMe(2))(2)(thf)(2) and Me(2)SiCl(2) eventually gave the [3]ferrocenophane based Cp-amido zirconium complex 11b. In a similar way the [3]ferrocenophane derived fluorenyl-Cp ansa-zirconocene dichloride complex 20 was obtained. The 20-methylalumoxane (MAO) system is an active homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst for ethylene polymerization. The 11b-MAO system reacts efficiently with an ethene-1-octene mixture to yield a mixture of linear polyethylene plus the ethene-1-octene copolymer. The compounds 5, 8, 10b, 11b, 13, 14, and 20 were characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Photoinduced Fe-Cp bond cleavage and insertion reactions of strained silicon- and sulphur-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes in the presence of transition-metal carbonyls

The photochemical reactions of the moderately strained sila[1]ferrocenophane [Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))(2)SiPh(2)] (1) and the highly strained thia[1]ferrocenophane [Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))(2)S] (8) with transition-metal carbonyls ([Fe(CO)(5)], [Fe(2)(CO)(9)] and [Co(2)(CO)(8)]) have been studied. The use of metal carbonyls has allowed the products of photochemically induced Fe-cyclopentadienyl (Cp) bond cleavage reactions in the [1]ferrocenophanes to be trapped as stable, characterisable products. During the course of these studies the synthesis of 8 from [Fe(eta-C(5)H(4)Li)(2)TMEDA] (TMEDA=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) and S(SO(2)Ph)(2) has been significantly improved by a change of reaction solvent and temperature. Photochemical reaction of 1 with excess [Fe(CO)(5)] in THF gave the dinuclear complex [Fe(2)(CO)(2)(mu-CO)(2)(eta-C(5)H(4))(2)SiPh(2)] (9). The analogous photolytic reaction of 8 with [Fe(CO)(5)] in THF gave cyclic dimer [Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))(2)S](2) (10) and [Fe(2)(CO)(2)(mu-CO)(2)(eta-C(5)H(4))(2)S] (11), with the former being the major product. Photolysis of 1 with [Co(2)(CO)(8)] afforded the remarkable tetrametallic dimer [(CO)(2)Co(eta-C(5)H(4))SiPh(2)(eta-C(5)H(4))Fe(CO)(2)](2) (13). The corresponding photochemical reaction of 8 with [Co(2)(CO)(8)] gave a trimetallic insertion product in high conversion, [Co(CO)(4)(CO)(2)Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))S(eta-C(5)H(4))Co(CO)(2)] (14). These reactivity studies show that UV light promotes Fe-Cp bond cleavage reactions of both of the [1]ferrocenophanes 1 and 8. We have found that, whereas the less strained sila[1]ferrocenophane 1 requires photoactivation for Fe-Cp bond insertions to occur, the highly strained thia[1]ferrocenophane 8 undergoes both irradiative and non-irradiative insertions, although the latter occur at a slower rate. Our results suggest that such photoinduced bond cleavage reactions may be general and applicable to other related strained organometallic rings with pi-hydrocarbon ligands.     

1,2,4-Diazaphospholide complexes of samarium(III)

A series of 1,2,4-diazaphospholide (dp(-)) samarium complexes with a variety of coordination modes were prepared via the metathesis reaction of SmCl3(THF)3 and potassium 3,5-disubstituted 1,2,4-diazaphospholide or by the reaction of Sm[N(SiMe3)2]3 and 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-diazaphosphole.     

Development of a convenient new synthetic route to [3]ferrocenophanones

[3]Ferrocenophanone rac-8 was prepared by several non-Friedel-Crafts pathways starting from a Mannich-type coupling of 1,1'-diacetylferrocene followed by catalytic hydrogenation. Hydride abstraction from the resulting alpha-dimethylamino[3]ferrocenophane rac-14 with B(C6F5)3 followed by hydrolysis gave the ketone rac-8. Several variants of the Sommelet reaction, using ethylglyoxylate, formaldehyde or hexamethylenetetramine (urotropine) as the "oxidizing" reagent gave the alpha-[3]ferrocenophanone 8 in good to excellent yield. Some variants of these reactions were also used for the preparation of the pure enantiomer (R)-8. The electrochemical behaviour of 8 has been investigated and compared with related derivatives.     

Spiro Compounds of Tin,Selenium and Tellurium Containing 1,3,2‐Diazaelement‐[3]ferrocenophane Units

The reactions of 1,1′‐bis[Li(trimethylsilyl)amino]ferrocene ( 2a ) with selenium‐ or tellurium tetrahalides gave the 1,1′,3,3′‐tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)‐1,1′,3,3′‐tetraaza‐2‐selene‐ and 2‐tellura‐2,2′‐spirobi[3]ferrocenophanes 5 and 6 , respectively. The analogous reaction with tin dichloride afforded the corresponding 2‐stanna‐2,2′‐spirobi[3]ferrocenophane ( 9 ) rather than the expected stannylene 8 . The reaction of 2,2‐dichloro‐1,3‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐1,3,2‐diazastanna‐[3]ferrocenophane ( 10 ) with the dilithio reagent 2b also gave the spirotin compound 9 , of which the molecular structure was determined by X‐ray analysis. The formation of the products and their solution‐state structures was deduced from multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ²⁹Si, ⁷⁷Se, ¹²⁵Te, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy).     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 1,5-dioxo-3-substituted [5]ferrocenophanes

The Claisen-Schmidt reaction between 1,1′-diacetylferrocene and ferrocenecarboxaldehyde under microwave irradiation has been investigated in different conditions. The selective synthesis of 1,5-dioxo-3-ferrocenyl[5]ferrocenophane has been achieved and a simple protocol for its purification was established. The reaction was generally applicable to other non-enolizable aldehydes and the corresponding 1,5-dioxo-3-substituted [5]ferrocenophanes were obtained in high yield within 30 min.     

Synthesis and properties of a new class of nitrogen-rich multinuclear[m.n] ferrocenophanes

The synthesis of the first tetraaza[3,3]ferrocenophane, from the previously unreported 1,1'-bis(triphenylphosphoranylidenamino)ferrocene and its conversion into a nitrogen-rich [2,2]bis[3,3]ferrocenophane is described. The electronic behaviour of these multinuclear ferrocenophanes indicates a strong electronic coupling between the iron centers.     

Bridged ferrocenes—VI Synthesis and stereochemistry of [1,1]ferrocenophanes

Synthetic routes to compounds of the [1.1]ferrocenophane class have been devised making use of fulvene and acid chloride precursors and the parent compound has been prepared by direct synthesis. The bridged ferrocenes obtained by these different approaches have been chemically interrelated and their structure and stereochemistry have been investigated through study of their spectral properties. Sodamide promotes intramolecular cyclisation of 1,1′-bis(-cyclopentadienylideneethyl)ferrocene to a [3]ferrocenophane derivative.     

2-Phospha[3]ferrocenophanes with planar chirality: synthesis and use in enantioselective organocatalytic [3 + 2] cyclizations

Planar chiral phosphines displaying a new ferrocenophane scaffold have been prepared via a stereoselective approach. The P-cyclohexyl substituted phosphine affords high levels of asymmetric induction in the organocatalytic [3 + 2] annulation reaction between allenes and electron-poor olefins.     

Samarium(II)-mediated pinacol coupling in water: occurrence of unexpected disproportionation and action of low-valent samarium as an active species

[reaction: see text] Mechanistic studies of one-electron reduction in water using samarium were carried out. Unexpected disproportionation in water was observed via UV-vis spectroscopic analysis. This fact indicates that low-valent samarium species can exist in water. Furthermore, the SmCl(3)-Sm and SmCl(3)-Mg systems were found to act as good one-electron reducing agents in water.     

Samarium(II)-mediated reactions of gamma,delta-unsaturated ketones. Cyclization and fragmentation processes

[reaction: see text] On treatment with samarium(II) iodide, gamma,delta-unsaturated ketones undergo very different processes depending upon the nature of the reaction conditions. Employing samarium(II) iodide and MeOH, functionalized syn-cyclopentanol products are obtained stereoselectively. Mechanistic studies suggest that this cyclization occurs via a sequential reduction/intramolecular aldol reaction. With samarium(II) iodide and HMPA, products of a 4-exo-trig cyclization and of an interesting fragmentation reaction are observed.     

Samarium(II) iodide mediated radical/polar crossover reactions of cyclobutenes. An efficient approach to the BCD ring system of the penitrems

[reaction: see text] Radical/polar crossover reactions of derivatives of 1-(2-cyclobutenyl)-2-(2-iodoaryl)ethanones with acetone promoted by samarium diiodide and HMPA provide 1-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2,2a,4,8b-tetrahydro-1H-cyclobuta[a]naphthalen-3-one derivatives in about 50% isolated yield. This reaction shows promise for construction of the BCD ring fragment of the penitrems.     

The trinuclear gallium-bridged Ferrocenophane [{Fe(eta5-C5H4)2}3Ga2]: synthesis, bonding, structure, and coordination chemistry

The trinuclear ferrocenophane [{Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(3)}(2)Ga(2)] (3) featuring two sp(2)-hybridized gallium atoms in bridging positions between three ferrocene-1,1'-diyl units represents a novel type of ferrocene derivative. Compound 3 is obtained by thermal treatment of 1,1'-bis(dimethylgallyl)ferrocene (1) in nondonor solvents or in diethyl ether as solvent and subsequent thermal decomplexation. The [1.1]ferrocenophane [{Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(2)}(2){GaMe}(2)] (2) is an intermediate in the formation of 3. The reaction of 3 with an excess of trimethylgallium leads back to 1 and proves the reversibility of the multistep reaction sequence. Theoretical calculations reveal a carousel-type D(3h) structure for 3. The compound can best be described as being composed of three only weakly interacting ferrocenediyl units covalently connected by gallium atoms without any pi-bond contribution in the Ga--C bonds. Owing to steric constraints 3 cannot be reduced to the dianion 3(2-), which would feature a Ga--Ga bond. Compound 3 represents a stereochemically rigid difunctional Lewis acid allowing the formation of the adducts 3 a-3 d possessing linear donor-aceptor-aceptor-donor arrangements. Crystal structure data for 3 a-3 d show a symmetry-reduced chiral ferrocenophane core (D(3h)-->D(3)). A polymeric rodlike structure is observed for 3 b and 3 d caused by pi-stacking effects (3 b) or by a difunctional donor-acceptor interaction (3 d). In solution, the chirality of the adducts is lost by rapid interconversion of the enantiomers. A cyclic voltammogram of 3 b in pyridine reveals three quasi-reversible oxidation steps at -356, -154, and 8 mV, indicating only weak electron delocalization in the cationic species. The redox potentials of the pyridine adduct 3 b are compared with those of other pyridine-stabilized gallyl-sustituted ferrocene derivatives and with ferrocene itself.     

Mechanistic aspects of samarium-mediated sigma-bond activations of arene C-H and arylsilane Si-C bonds.

To investigate the potential role of Sm-Ph species as intermediates in the samarium-catalyzed redistribution of PhSiH3 to Ph2SiH2 and SiH4, the samarium phenyl complex [Cp*2SmPh]2 (1) was prepared by oxidation of Cp2*Sm (2) with HgPh2. Compound 1 thermally decomposes to yield benzene and the phenylene-bridged disamarium complex Cp*2Sm(mu-1,4-C6H4)SmCp*2 (3). This decomposition reaction appears to proceed through dissociation of 1 into monomeric Cp*2SmPh species which then react via unimolecular and bimolecular pathways, involving rate-limiting Cp* metalation and direct C-H activation, respectively. The observed rate law for this process is of the form: rate = k1[1] + k2[1]2. Complex 1 efficiently transfers its phenyl group to PhSiH3, with formation of Ph2SiH2 and [Cp*2Sm(mu-H)]2 (4). Quantitative Si-C bond cleavage of C6F5SiH3 is effected by the samarium hydride complex 4, yielding silane and [Cp*2Sm(mu-C6F5)]2 (5). In contrast, Si-H activation takes place upon reaction of 4 with o-MeOC6H4SiH3, affording the samarium silyl species [structure: see text] Cp*2SmSiH2(o-MeOC6H4) (7). Complex 7 rapidly decomposes to [Cp*2Sm(mu-o-MeOC6H4)]2 (6) and other samarium-containing products. Compounds 5 and 6 were prepared independently by oxidation of 2 with Hg(C6F5)2 and Hg(o-MeOC6H4)2, respectively. The mechanism of samarium-mediated redistribution at silicon, and chemoselectivity in sigma-bond metathesis reactions, are discussed.     

Syntheses and structural characterization of some mono- and di-p-nitrophenyl[3]ferrocenophanes: X-ray structure of [3]ferrocenophane, 3-p-nitrophenyl[3]ferrocenophane, and 3,4′-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)[3]ferrocenophane; DFT calculations on ferrocene derivatives

[3]Ferrocenophane (3a) reacts in a Gomberg reaction with diazotized p-nitroaniline to give a mixture of mono- and di-substituted products. The isomeric pairs of 3- and 2-(p-nitrophenyl)[3]ferrocenophanes (4 and 5), as well as 3,4′- and 3,4-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)[3]ferrocenophanes (6 and 7) were separated from the mixture by column chromatography on Al₂O₃ and characterized by means of mass, IR, UV, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, and by X-ray analysis (4 and 6). PM3/tm and density functional theoretical calculations on ferrocene (1) and ferrocenophane derivatives are reported. A refined X-ray structure determination of [3]ferrocenophane (3a) is given.