Synthesis and structure of 1-metallacyclopent-3-yne complexes of group 4 metals

Five-membered metallacyclic alkyne complexes of titanium and hafnium, 1,1-bis(cyclopentadienyl)-1-titanacyclopent-3-yne (2) and trans-1,1-bis(cyclopentadienyl)-2,5-trimethylsilyl-1-hafnacyclopent-3-yne (6), were synthesized and structurally characterized. The structural analysis of titanium complex 2 implied a larger contribution of an η⁴-π,π-coordinated structure. The hafnium compound 6 has a similar structure to the corresponding zirconium analogue (1a), although slight differences in the bond lengths and angles were observed. A novel 1-zirconacyclopent-3-yne complex, 1,1-bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)-2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-zirconacyclopent-3-yne (5), was also prepared and the structure of the trans-isomer was determined.     

Intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes: Part 5. Generation and conversion of 1-[2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyl]- and 1-(8-alkoxynaphthyl)-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silenes

1-(8-Methoxy-1-naphthyl)-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silene (10) and the 1-[2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyl]-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silenes (12a-d) were generated by the reaction of (dichloromethyl)tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (1) with two molar equivalents of 8-methoxy-1-naphthyllithium or 2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyllithium (8a-d), respectively, but proved to be unstable. 10 was trapped with excess of the applied naphthyllithium reagent to give 1,1-bis(8-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-1-[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (11); and 12a-d underwent spontaneous conversions and formed two types of substituted 2-oxa-1-silaindane derivatives (13a,b and 14b-d). Whereas silenes with an intramolecular amine coordination are thermally stable compounds which can be isolated, the intramolecular coordination of an ether group to the electrophilic silene silicon atom does not provide a comparable stabilization to the SiC system and the respective derivatives generated were converted into resultant products.     

Reactions of azulenes with 1,2-diaryl-1,2-ethanediols in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid: comparative studies on products, crystal structures, and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

Although reaction of guaiazulene (1a) with 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol (2a) in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h under aerobic conditions gives no product, reaction of 1a with 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (2b) under the same reaction conditions as 2a gives a new ethylene derivative, 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (3), in 97% yield. Similarly, reaction of methyl azulene-1-carboxylate (1b) with 2b under the same reaction conditions as 1a gives no product; however, reactions of 1-chloroazulene (1c) and the parent azulene (1d) with 2b under the same reaction conditions as 1a give 2-[3-(1-chloroazulenyl)]-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (4) (81% yield) and 2-azulenyl-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (5) (15% yield), respectively. Along with the above reactions, reactions of 1a with 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (2c) and 1-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol (2d) under the same reaction conditions as 2b give 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene (6) (73% yield) and (Z)-2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1-phenylethylene (7) (17% yield), respectively. Comparative studies of the above reaction products and their yields, crystal structures, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of the products 3-7 is described.     

Silyl stabilized azanes: reactions of lithiumbis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine with trialkyltin halides

Lithium 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (1a) reacts with Me₃SnCl, Et₃SnBr and Bu₃SnCl to form bis(trimethylsilyl)(trimethylstannyl)hydrazine (2a), (triethylstannyl)bis(trimethyl silyl)hydrazine (2b) and (tributylstannyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (2c), respectively. Compounds 2a and 2b undergo disproportionation at room temperature to form bis(trimethylsilyl)bis(trimethylstannyl)hydrazine (3a) and bis(triethylstannyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (3b). In contrast, 2c is highly stable and can withstand such a reaction up to 150 °C. The monostannylated products, 2a, 2b and 2c do not get lithiated at NH and instead undergo transmetallation in their reaction with RLi or Li to form lithiumbis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (1a).     

Reaction of azulene with 1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1,2-ethanediol in a mixed solvent of methanol and acetonitrile in the presence of hydrochloric acid: a facile one-pot synthesis and properties of new triarylethylenes possessing an azulen-1-yl group

Reaction of azulene (1) with 1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1,2-ethanediol (2) in a mixed solvent of methanol and acetonitrile in the presence of 36% hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h gives 2-(azulen-1-yl)-1,1-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethylene (3) (8% yield), 1-(azulen-1-yl)-(E)-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethylene (4) (28% yield), and 1,3-bis{2,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethenyl}azulene (5) (9% yield). Besides the above products, this reaction affords 1,1-di(azulen-1-yl)-2,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethane (6) (15% yield), a meso form (1R,2S)-1,2-di(azulen-1-yl)-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethane (7) (6% yield), and the two enantiomeric forms (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-di(azulen-1-yl)-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethanes (8) (6% yield). Furthermore, addition reaction of 3 with 1 under the same reaction conditions as the above provides 6, in 46% yield, which upon oxidation with DDQ (=2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone) in dichloromethane at 25 °C for 24 h yields 1,1-di(azulen-1-yl)-2,2-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethylene (9) in 48% yield. Interestingly, reaction of 1,1-bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (11) with 1 in a mixed solvent of methanol and acetonitrile in the presence of 36% hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h gives guaiazulene (10) and 3, owing to the replacement of a guaiazulen-3-yl group by an azulen-1-yl group, in 91 and 46% yields together with 5 (19% yield) and 6 (13% yield). Similarly, reactions of 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (12) and 1,1-bis{4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl}-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (13) with 1 under the same reaction conditions as the above provide 10, 2-(azulen-1-yl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (16), and 1,3-bis[2,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]azulene (17) (93, 34, and 19% yields) from 12 and 10 and 2-(azulen-1-yl)-1,1-bis{4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl}ethylene (18) (97 and 58% yields) from 13.     

Reactions of guaiazulene with thiophene-2,5-dicarbaldehyde and furan-2,5-dicarbaldehyde in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid: a facile preparation and properties of delocalized dicarbenium-ion compounds stabilized by two 3-guaiazulenyl groups and a thiophene (or furan) ring

Reaction of guaiazulene (1) with thiophene-2,5-dicarbaldehyde (2) in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at 25 °C for 3 h gives as high as 90% isolated yield of the delocalized dicarbenium-ion compound, 2,5-thienylenebis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(hexafluorophosphate) (3). Similarly, reaction of 1 with furan-2,5-dicarbaldehyde (4) under the same conditions as the above reaction affords the corresponding dicarbenium-ion compound, 2,5-furylenebis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(hexafluorophosphate) (5), in 84% isolated yield. Along with a facile preparation and the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 3 and 5, comparative studies on the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral and chemical properties of 3 and 5 with those of the delocalized mono- and dicarbenium-ion compounds [i.e., (3-guaiazulenyl)(2-thienyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (7), (2-furyl)(3-guaiazulenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (9), α,α′-bis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(tetrafluoroborate) (10), 1,2-phenylenebis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(hexafluorophosphate) (11), and 1,4-phenylenebis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(tetrafluoroborate) (12)] are reported. Moreover, referring to the results of the X-ray crystallographic analyses of 7, 9, 11, and 12, the optimized 2,5-thienylenebis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium)- and 2,5-furylenebis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium)-ion structures for 3 and 5, calculated by a WinMOPAC (version 3.0) program using PM3 as a semiempirical Hamiltonian, are described.     

Reactions of (E)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene and 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in benzene: comparative studies on the products and their spectroscopic properties

Reactions of the title ethylene derivatives, (E)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (1) and 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (2), with a 2 M amount of TCNE in benzene at 25 °C for 24 h under argon give new cycloaddition compounds, 1,1,2,2,11,11,12,12-octacyano-3-(3-guaiazulenyl)-8-isopropyl-5,10-dimethyl-1,2,3,6,9,10a-hexahydro-6,9-ethanobenz[a]azulene (3) from 1 and 1,1,2,2,11,11,12,12-octacyano-8-isopropyl-3,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,10-dimethyl-1,2,3,6,9,10a-hexahydro-6,9-ethanobenz[a]-azulene (4) from 2, respectively, in 66 and 87% isolated yields. Comparative studies on the above reactions as well as the spectroscopic properties of the unique products 3 and 4, possessing interesting molecular structures, are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of these products is described.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of η-allyl(α-diimine)nickel(II) complexes bearing trimethylsilyl groups

A set of isomeric para- and meta-trimethylsilylphenyl ortho-substituted N,N-phenyl α-diimine ligands [(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar) Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (16); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (17)] have been synthesized through a two-step procedure. The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between 2,6-dibromophenylamine (7) and 4-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (8), 3-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (9) was used to prepare 4,4^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (10) and 3,3^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (11). The di-1-adamantylphosphine oxide Ad₂P(O)H (13) and di-tert-butyl-trimethylsilylanylmethylphosphine tert-Bu₂P-CH₂-SiMe₃ (14) were used for the first time as ligands for the Suzuki coupling. The condensation of 2,2,3,3-tetramethoxybutane (15) with anilines 10 and 11 afforded α-diimines 16 and 17. The reaction of π-allylnickel chloride dimer (18), α-diimines (16), (17) and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BAF) (19) or silver hexafluoroantimonate (20) led to two sets of isomeric complexes [η³-allyl(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar)Ni]⁺ X⁻, [Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (3), X=SbF₆ (4); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (5), X=SbF₆ (6)]. The steric repulsion of closely positioned trimethylsilyl groups in 4 caused the distortion of the nickel square planar coordination by 17.6° according to X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel triazenes from the reaction of the cyclic aminal 1,3,6,8-tetraazatricyclo[4.3.1.1]undecane (TATU) with diazonium ions

The reaction of the cyclic aminal 1,3,6,8-tetraazatricyclo[4.3.1.1^3,8]undecane (TATU, 4) with diazonium salts resulted in the formation of a new series of bis-triazenes, namely 3,8-bis[(4-methoxyphenyl)diazenyl]-1,3,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[4.3.1]decane 6a, 3,8-bis[(2-methoxyphenyl)diazenyl]-1,3,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[4.3.1]decane 6b, 3,8-bis(p-tolyldiazenyl)-1,3,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[4.3.1]decane 6c. When aniline derived diazonium salt 5d was coupled with TATU, 3,8-bis(phenyldiazenyl)-1,3,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[4.3.1]decane 6d and bis[1,5-bis-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)-1,3,5-triazepan-3-yl]methane 7 were obtained. These compounds were characterized by HR-MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and 2D-NMR. Additionally, the structure of compound 7 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Mercury(II) iodide coordination polymers generated from polyimine ligands

A series of new HgI₂ organic polymeric complexes, [Hg₂(L1)I₄]_n (1), [Hg(L2)I₂]_n (2), [Hg(L3)I₂]_n (3), [Hg₂(L4)I₄]_n (4), [Hg(L5)I₂]_n (5), [Hg(L6)I₃](HL6) (6) {L1 = 1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene, L2 = 1,4-bis(3-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene, L3 = 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene, L4 = 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene, L5 = 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene and L6 = 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene} was prepared from reactions of mercury(II) iodide with six organic nitrogen donor-based ligands under thermal gradient conditions using the branched tube method. All these compounds were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The HgI₂ coordination polymers obtained with the ligands L2, L3 and L5 show one-dimensional zig-zag motifs and in these compounds the HgI₂ units are connected to each other by the ligands L2, L3 and L5 through the pyridyl nitrogen atoms. The L1 and L4 ligands in the compounds 1 and 4 act as both a chelating and bridging group. In the compound 6 the ligand L6 acts as a monodentate ligand, resulting form a discrete compound. The thermal stabilities of compounds 1–6 were studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA).     

New o-methoxyphenylcyclopentadienylchromium (III) complexes: Synthesis, structures and catalytic properties for ethylene polymerization

Two new ligands 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadiene (1) and 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentadiene (2), as well as their corresponding cyclopentadienylchromium complexes η⁵-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienyl chromium dichloride (3) and η⁵-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl chromium dichloride (4) were synthesized and characterized. Molecular structures of 3 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 3 and 4 were tested as catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. When activated with Al(ⁱBu)₃ and , complex 3 shows reasonable catalytic activity while 4 exhibits high catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization. The effects of temperature and Al/Cr ratio on the catalytic activity were studied. The molecular weight and melting temperature of the produced polyethylenes were determined.     

Silyl stabilized azanes: Reactions of mono- and dilithium bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazide with dichloro- and tetrachlorostannane

SnCl₄ acts primarily as an oxidant and oxidizes monolithium bis(trimethylsilyl) hydrazide 1 to mainly bis(trimethylsilyl)amine, BSA and tris(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine, TrSH and itself get reduced to SnCl₂. Similarly, reaction of SnCl₄ with dilithiumbis(trimethylsilyl) hydrazide 2, oxidizes it to lithium tris(trimethylsilyl)hydrazide, Li-TrSH. Reaction of dichlorostannane (reduction of oxidation state of tin from +4 to +2) with 1 gives a simple substitution reaction and give a pale yellow solid, 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,2,4,5-tetraza-3,6-distannacyclohexane, 3b. Whereas, in reaction of 2 with SnCl₂ intermediate stannimine [(Me₃Si)₂N-NSn], tetramerizes and further loses tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)tetrazene, TST to give a cubane compound [(Me₃Si)N-Sn]₄, 4.     

Mg-promoted reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl compounds with trimethylsilyl chloride and bis(chlorodimethylsilyl) compounds

Mg-promoted reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl compounds (1) with chlorosilanes, such as trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl:2), 1,2-bis(chlorodimethylsilyl)ethane (3) and 1,5-dichlorohexamethyltrisiloxane (4), in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature brought about selective and facile reductive formation of both of carbon-silicon and oxygen-silicon bonds to give the corresponding α-trimethylsilylalkyl trimethylsilyl ethers (5) and cyclic siloxanes (6), (7) in moderate to good yields, respectively. The present facile and selective coupling may be initiated through electron transfer from Mg metal to aromatic carbonyl compounds (1).     

Synthesis of new imines and amines containing organosilicon groups

The Peterson olefination reaction of terephthalaldehyde with tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl lithium, (Me₃Si)₃CLi, in THF at 0 °C gives 4-[2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethenyl]benzaldehyde (1) and 4,4-bis[2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethenyl]benzene (2). The new aldehyde (1) reacts with variety of amines in ethanol to afford the corresponding imines (3) containing vinylbis(trimethylsilyl) group. The newly synthesized imines (3) can be completely converted into amines containing vinylbis(trimethylsilyl) group with an excess amount of NaBH₄. In the case of N-[4-(2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethenyl)benzyl]-2,6-dimethylaniline LiAlH₄ was used as a reducing agent in THF.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines. Part 4: Synthesis from d-fructose of protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-d-galactitol derivatives

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-β-d-fructopyranose (5) was straightforwardly transformed into its d-psico epimer (8), after O-debenzoylation followed by oxidation and reduction, which caused the inversion of the configuration at C(3). Compound 8 was treated with lithium azide yielding 5-azido-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-tagatopyranose (9) that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 10. Cleavage of the acetonide in 10 to give 11, followed by regioselective 1-O-pivaloylation to 12 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2′-O-pivaloylpyrrolidine (13). Stereochemistry of 13 could be determined after O-deacylation to the symmetric pyrrolidine 14. Total deprotection of 14 gave 2,5-imino-2,5-dideoxy-d-galactitol (15, DGADP).     

Synthesis and preliminary cytotoxicity studies of achiral pyrrolyl-substituted titanocenes

From the reaction of various 6-pyrrolylfulvenes (3a–3d) with Super Hydride (LiBEt₃H), lithiated cyclopentadienide intermediates (4a–4d) were synthesised. These intermediates were then transmetallated with titanium tetrachloride TiCl₄ to yield the pyrrolyl-substituted titanocenes bis-[((1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5a), bis-[((1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5b), bis-[((2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5c), bis-[((2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-pyrrole)2-)cyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (5d). Titanocene 5b crystallised and was characterised by X-ray crystallography. The four titanocenes 5a–5d were tested for their cytotoxicity through MTT-based in vitro tests on CAKI-1 cell lines in order to determine their IC₅₀ values. Titanocenes 5a–5d were found to have IC₅₀ values of 440 (±35), 68 (±14), 105 (±30), and 36 (±7) μM.     

Dendritic BINOL ligands for asymmetric catalysis: effect of the linking positions and generations of the dendritic wedges on catalyst properties

Three types of new chiral BINOL ligands (2, 3 and 4) bearing dendritic wedges have been synthesized through coupling reaction between 3-hydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (7), 6,6′-dihydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (12), 6-hydroxymethyl-2,2′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-binaphthol (15) and Fréchet-type polyether dendritic benzyl bromide, followed by deprotection of methoxymethyl groups by ⁱPrOH/HCl, respectively. These new ligands obtained were assessed in enantioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. Compared to the enantioselectivity observed with dendrimer 1 bearing the dendritic wedges at 3,3′-positions of the binaphthyl backbone, higher enantioselectivity for all these ligands was observed. Difference in the effect of linking positions and generations on enantioselectivity and/or activity for all three kinds of dendritic ligand-derived catalysts was observed. Among these dendritic ligands, (R)-3/Ti(IV) catalyst with the dendritic wedges at 6,6′-positions of BINOL gave the highest enantioselectivity (up to 87% ee).     

The highly regiospecific synthesis and crystal structure determination of 1,1′-2,5′ substituted ring-locked ferrocenes

1,1′-Ferrocene biscarboxaldehyde (1) has been prepared and the aldehyde groups were subsequently protected with acetal groups to produce 1,1′-bisacetalferrocene (2). A ring-locked ferrocene was synthesised by further derivatisation of the cyclopentadiene rings at the 2,2′ positions with phosphine substituents to produce 2,2′-bis-(acetal)-1,1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene (3), which was subsequently coordinated to either a nickel chloride (5) or nickel bromide (6) metal centre. The ring-locked ferrocene complexes produced 2,5′-bis-(acetal)-1,1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene substitution patterns. The acetal protecting groups of 2,2′-bis-(acetal)-1,1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene were removed to produce 1,1′-bis-carboxaldehyde-2,2′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene (4). The Cp rings of 1,1′-bisacetalferrocene were also further derivatised at the 2,2′ positions with a silane to produce the ring-locked 1,1′-siloxane-2,5′-bisacetalferrocenophane (7). The acetal protecting groups were removed from this to produce 1,1′-siloxane-2,5′-ferrocenophanecarboxaldehyde (8). For both the phosphine and siloxane electrophiles, the substitution on the Cp rings gives chiral products (obtained as racemic mixtures). Due to the highly regioselective nature of the reaction and diastereoselectivity in the products only C₂-symmetric compounds were observed without the presence of meso diastereoisomers. Subsequent ring-locking forced the Cp rings to rotate, leading to 1,1′-ring-locked ferrocenes with 2,5′-arrangement of the acetal groups (i.e. on opposite faces of the ferrocene unit).     

Synthesis and thermal behavior of cis- and trans-1-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene

The cothermolysis of benzoyl(tert-butyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)silane with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene in a sealed tube at 140 °C for 24 h afforded cis- and trans-1-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene (2 and 3) in a ratio of approximately 1:1 in 66% combined yield. When cis-silacyclohex-4-ene 2 was heated in a sealed tube at 250 °C for 24 h, dyotropic ring contraction took place to give 1-[(tert-butyl)(trimethylsiloxy)(trimethylsilyl)silyl]-3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylcyclopent-3-ene (4), but not trans-2-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-(trimethylsiloxy)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene (6). The thermolysis of trans-silacyclohex-4-ene 3 under the same conditions, however, afforded two products, 1-silyl-1-phenylcyclopent-3-ene 4 and trans-1-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-(trimethylsiloxy)-2-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene (5). The theoretical calculations were carried out to characterize the transition states and other local minima, and to evaluate the activation energies for the dyotropic rearrangement of 2 to 4 and 6, and 3 to 4 and 5. The energy barriers between 2 and 4, between 3 and 4, and between 3 and 5 were evaluated to be 188, 191, 192 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The energy barrier between 2 and 6, however, was calculated to be 201 kJ mol⁻¹ or higher. These results are consistent with the experimental finding that the thermal isomerization of 2 affords only 4, but 3 produces both 4 and 5.