The development of highly selective approaches to sandwich-type heteroleptic double- and triple-decker lutetium(III) and europium(III) phthalocyanine complexes

The selective synthesis of heteroleptic (heteronuclear) sandwich-type lanthanide phthalocyanines has been accomplished. Double-decker complexes ^BuPcLnPc, and ^BuPcLnPc^Cl (Ln = Lu, Eu; ^BuPc = 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octabutylphthalocyaninate; Pc = phthalocyaninate, ^ClPc = 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octachlorophthalocyaninate) were obtained in good yields by a direct interaction of metal-free ligand ^BuPcH₂ with the monophthalocyanines PcLnOAc or ^ClPcLnOAc. Heteronuclear triple-decker phthalocyanines PcEu^RPcLu^RPc, ^ClPcEu^RPcLu^RPc and ^BuPcEu^RPcLu^RPc (^RPc = ^BuPc, ^tBuPc; ^tBuPc = 2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninate) were obtained from the corresponding mono-(PcEuOAc, ^ClPcEuOAc, ^BuPcEuOAc) and bisphthalocyanines (^RPc₂Lu) under similar conditions.     

Synthesis and characterisation of two novel Rh(I) carbene complexes: Crystal structure of [Rh(acac)(CO)(L1)]

The [Rh(acac)(CO)(L)] (acac = acetylacetonato; L₁ = 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolinylidene and L₂ = 1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolinylidene) complexes were prepared by the action of the parent carbene on [Rh(acac)(CO)₂] in THF. The crystal structure characterisation of [Rh(acac)(CO)(L₁)] revealed a slightly distorted square planar geometry with the carbene ligand orientated almost perpendicular to the equatorial plane; an elongated trans Rh-O bond of 2.0806(18) Å reflecting the considerable trans-influence of the carbene ligand. By measuring the CO stretching frequencies in a range of [Rh(acac)(CO)(L)] complexes (L = CO, L₁, L₂, PPh₃, PⁿBu₃, P(O-2,4-^tBu₂-Ph)₃) the following electron donating ability series was established: L₁ ∼ L₂ ∼ PⁿBu₃ > PPh₃ > P(O-2,4-^tBu₂-Ph)₃ > CO; indicating the carbenes investigated in this study to have a similar electronic cis-influence as trialkyl phosphines. Both complexes do not display hydroformylation activity towards 1-hexene in the absence of added phosphine or phosphite ligands under the conditions investigated (P = 60; T = 85 °C). In the presence of a phosphine or phosphite ligand the resulting hydroformylation catalysis was identical to that observed for [Rh(acac)(CO)₂] and the corresponding ligand and subsequent high-pressure ³¹P NMR studies confirmed substitution of the carbene ligand under these conditions.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and biological activities of four novel tetranuclear di-organotin(IV) carboxylates

Four complexes: [Bu₂(L₁)SnOSn(L₁)Bu₂]₂ (1), [Bu₂(L₂)SnOSn(L₂)Bu₂]₂ (2), [Bu₂(L₃)SnOSn(L₃)Bu₂]₂ (3), and [Bu₂(L₄)SnOSn(L₄)Bu₂]₂ (4), (HL₁ = 2-(4-methylbenzoyl)benzoic acid, HL₂ = 2-(2,4-diethylbenzoyl)benzoic acid, HL₃ = 2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)benzoic acid, HL₄ = 2-(4-isopropylbenzoyl)benzoic acid) have been prepared and structurally characterized by means of elemental analysis and vibrational, ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies. The crystal structures of all complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Three distannoxane rings are present to the dimeric tetraorganodistannoxane of planar ladder arrangement. Each structure is centro-symmetric and features a central rhombus Sn₂O₂ unit with two additional tin atoms linked at the O atoms. Complex 1 exhibited good antibacterial and antitumor activities and have a potential to be used as drugs.     

Capillary electrophoretic study of thiolated α-cyclodextrin-capped gold nanoparticles with tetraalkylammonium ions

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been employed to characterize nanometer-sized thiolated α-cyclodextrin-capped gold nanoparticles (α-CD-S-AuNPs). The addition of tetrabutylammonium (Bu₄N⁺) ions to the run buffer greatly narrows the migration peak of α-CD-S-AuNP. The optimal run buffer was determined to be 10 mM Bu₄N⁺ in 30 mM phosphate buffer at pH 12 and an applied voltage of 15 kV. The effect of various tetraalkylammonium ions on the peak width and electrophoretic mobility (μ_e) of α-CD-S-AuNP was studied in detail. Bu₄N⁺ ions assist in inter-linking the α-CD-S-AuNPs and narrowing the migration peak in CZE. This observation can be explained by the fact that each Bu₄N⁺ ion can simultaneously interact with several hydrophobic cavities of the surface-attached α-CDs on AuNPs. The TEM images show that α-CD-S-AuNPs with Bu₄N⁺ are linked together but in the absence of Bu₄N⁺, they are more dispersed. The migration mechanism in CZE is based on the formation of inclusion complexes between Bu₄N⁺ and α-CD-S-AuNPs which induces changes in the charge-to-size ratio of α-CD-S-AuNPs and μ_e. An inverse linear relationship (r² > 0.998) exists between the μ_e and size of α-CD-S-AuNPs in the core range 1.4–4.1 nm. The CZE analyses are rapid with migration time less than 4 min. A few nanoliters of each of the α-CD-S-AuNP samples were injected hydrodynamically at 0.5 psi for 5 s. Our work confirms that CZE is an efficient tool for characterizing the sizes of α-CD-S-AuNPs using Bu₄N⁺ ions.     

Deprotonation of fluoro aromatics using lithium magnesates

3-Fluoropyridine was deprotonated on treatment with 1/3 equiv of Bu₃MgLi in THF at −10 °C. The lithium arylmagnesate formed was either trapped with electrophiles or involved in a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with 2-bromopyridine. The use of a less nucleophilic lithium-magnesium-dialkylamide, (TMP)₃MgLi, allowed the reaction of 3-fluoroquinoline, giving the 2,2′-dimeric derivative. 2-Fluoropyridine and 2,6-difluoropyridine were deprotonated using 1/3 equiv of the highly coordinated magnesate Bu₄MgLi₂ in THF at −10 °C in the presence of a substoichiometric amount of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. 1,3-Difluorobenzene reacted similarly when treated with Bu₃MgLi; the reactivity of the base proved to be enhanced by the presence of TMEDA.     

Deprotonation of furans using lithium magnesates

Furan was deprotonated on treatment with 1/3 equiv of Bu₃MgLi in THF at rt. The lithium arylmagnesate formed was either trapped with electrophiles or involved in a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with 2-bromopyridine. The highly coordinated magnesate Bu₄MgLi₂ (1/3 equiv) proved to be a better deprotonating agent than Bu₃MgLi; the monitoring of the reaction using NMR spectroscopy showed that the deprotonation of furan at rt required 2 h whereas the subsequent electrophilic trapping was instantaneous. The method was extended to benzofuran, allowing its functionalization at C2 in high yields. The deprotonation of 2-methylfuran and lithium furfurylalkoxide at C5 turned out to be difficult, requiring either long reaction times or higher temperatures.     

Deprotonation of chloropyridines using lithium magnesates

4-Chloropyridine was deprotonated on treatment with 1/3 equiv of the highly coordinated magnesate Bu₃(TMP)MgLi₂ in THF at −10 °C, as evidenced by trapping with I₂. The use of Bu(TMP)₂MgLi in Et₂O allowed the reaction of 2-chloropyridine, giving the 3-functionalized derivative as the main product. Mixtures of 3- and 4-functionalized derivatives were obtained when 2,6-dichloropyridine was involved in the reaction. Performing the reaction on 3-chloropyridine with lithium magnesates in THF, either the 4,4′-dimer or the 4-iodo derivative was formed after quenching by I₂, the former using 1/3 equiv of Bu₂(TMP)MgLi and the latter using 1 equiv of (TMP)₃MgLi. Similar results were observed with 3,5-dichloropyridine, 2,5-dichloropyridine and 3-chloro-2-fluoropyridine. 1,2-Migration of the lithium arylmagnesate formed by deprotonation was proposed to justify the dimers formation.     

Titanium ketimide complexes as α-olefin homo- and copolymerisation catalysts. X-ray diffraction structures of [TiCp(NCBu2)Cl2] (Cp=Ind, Cp*)

The synthesis of [TiInd(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] and the applications of [TiCp^′(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] (Cp^′=Ind, Cp*, Cp) as ethylene and propylene homopolymerisation catalysts, as well as its behaviour as catalysts of ethylene and 10-undecen-1-ol copolymerisation are described. The optimisation of the catalytic reactions showed that all compounds are very active homopolymerisation catalysts, particularly [TiInd(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] that gives 123.37 × 10⁶ g/(molTi [E] h) and 50.77 × 10⁶ g/(molTi [P] h) of linear polyethylene and atatic polypropylene, respectively. The less active homopolymerisation catalyst, [TiCp(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂], is the most effective ethylene/10-undecen-1-ol copolymerisation catalyst, leading to the highest degree of polar monomer incorporation. The polymers obtained were characterised by NMR and DSC. The molecular structures of [TiCp^′(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] (Cp^′=Ind, Cp*) were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Organotin flufenamates: Synthesis, characterization and antiproliferative activity of organotin flufenamates

The organotin flufenamates [Me₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Me₂]₂ (1), [Bu₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Bu₂]₂ (2) and [Bu₂Sn(flu)₂] (3) have been prepared and structurally characterized by means of vibrational and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy. The crystal structure of [Me₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Me₂]₂ (1) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Three distannoxane rings are present to the dimeric tetraorganodistannoxane of planar ladder arrangement. The structure is centro-symmetric and features a central rhombus Sn₂O₂ unit with two additional tin atoms linked at the O atoms. Six-coordinated tin centers are present in the dimer distannoxane. This structure is self-assembled via π → π and C-H → π stacking interactions. Flufenamic acid and flufenamates were evaluated for antiproliferative activity in vitro. Among the compounds tested [Bu₂(flu)SnOSn(flu)Bu₂]₂ (2) and [Bu₂Sn(flu)₂] (3) exhibited high cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell line A549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma).     

Synthesis and structure of stable cis-dimethyl complex of oxotungsten(VI)

Oxotungsten(VI) complex cis-[WO(L^tBu)Me₂] (L^tBu = methylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenolate) dianion) was prepared by the transmetallation reaction of [WO(L^tBu)Cl₂] (either cis or trans isomer) with methyl magnesium iodide. This unexpectedly stable dialkyl complex can be activated by Et₂AlCl to catalyze the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene.     

Synthesis, structure, and bridge-terminal alkyl exchange kinetics of pyrazolate-bridged dialuminum complexes containing bridging n-alkyl groups

Treatment of triethylaluminum with 3,5-diphenylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the ethyl-bridged complex Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ (79%) as a colorless crystalline solid. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the n-propyl-bridged complex (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ (63%) and the dimeric complex [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (3%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum (1 equiv.) or triisobutylaluminum (1 or 2 equiv.) with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole afforded exclusively the dimeric complexes [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (68%) or [(iBu)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (96%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. The solid state structures of Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ consist of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazolato ligands with a di-n-alkylalumino group bonded to each nitrogen atom. An ethyl or n-propyl group acts as a bridge between the two aluminum atoms. The kinetics of the bridge-terminal exchange was determined for the bridging n-alkyl complexes by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and afforded ΔH^‡ = 1.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.8 ± 39.0 cal/K mol, and for Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and ΔH^‡ = 1.7 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.6 ± 43.4 cal/K mol, and for (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂. The negative values of ΔS^‡ imply ordered transition states relative to the ground states, and rotation along the N-AlR₃ vector without aluminum-nitrogen bond cleavage is proposed.     

Titanium and zirconium ketimide complexes: synthesis and ethylene polymerisation catalysis

The syntheses of ketimide titanium complexes of the type Ti(NC^tBu₂)₃X (X = Cl, Cp, Ind), Ti(NC^tBu₂)₄ and the zirconium complex CpZr(NC^tBu₂)₂Cl are described. When activated by MAO, all compounds are ethylene polymerisation catalysts. In the conditions studied, the most active catalyst is CpZr(NC^tBu₂)₂Cl, with an activity of 2.7 × 10⁵ kg/(molZr [E] h). Titanium complexes are less active by about two orders of magnitude. The polyethylene produced is linear, as determined by NMR spectroscopy. Molecular structures of Ti(NC^tBu₂)₃X (X = Cl, Cp, Ind) and Ti(NC^tBu₂)₄ were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction.     

Reactions of 1,2-catechol with Bu3M (M = Ga, In). Structures of intermediate products

Reactions of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃M (M = Ga, In) have been studied. Trinuclear compounds [^tBu₅M₃(OC₆H₄O)₂] [M = Ga (1), M = In (2)] were synthesised in the reaction of 2 equiv. of C₆H₄(OH)₂ with 3 equiv. of ^tBu₃M in refluxing solvents. At room temperature the reaction of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃In in Et₂O leads to the formation of a binuclear complex [^tBu₄In₂(OC₆H₄OH)₂ · 2Et₂O] (3) possessing a four-membered In₂O₂ core and two unreacted hydroxyl groups. The same reaction carried out in a non-coordinating solvent (CH₂Cl₂) results in formation a compound [^tBu₃In₂(OC₆H₄O)(OC₆H₄OH)] (4), which undergoes a reaction with ^tBu₃In to yield the product 2. Moreover two intermediate isomeric products 5 and 6 of formula [^tBu₃Ga₂(OC₆H₄O)(OC₆H₄OH)] were isolated from the post-reaction mixture of 1,2-catechol with ^tBu₃Ga. The compound 6 possessing a different coordination of gallium atoms than 5 is a result of the intramolecular rearrangement of the compound 5 to decrease the steric repultion between ligands. Compounds 3 and 6 were structurally characterised. According to the structure of intermediate products 3-6 a reaction pathway of 1,2-catechols with group 13 metal trialkyls was proposed.     

Synthesis and characterization of bis[dicarboxylatotetraorganodistannoxane] units involving 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]-2-hydroxybenzoic acids: An investigation of structures by X-ray diffraction, NMR, electrospray ionisation MS and assessment of in vitro cytotoxicity

Reactions of 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]-2-hydroxybenzoic acids (LHH′, where the aryl group is an R-substituted phenyl ring such that for L¹HH′: R = H; L²HH′: R = 2′-CH₃; L³HH′: R = 3′-CH₃; L⁴HH′: R = 4′-CH₃; L⁵HH′: R = 4′-Cl; L⁶HH′: R = 4′-Br) with ⁿBu₂SnO in a 1:1 molar ratio yielded complexes of composition {[ⁿBu₂Sn(LH)]₂O}₂. The complexes have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, ESI-MS, IR and ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques in combination with elemental analyses. The crystal structures of {[ⁿBu₂Sn(L¹H)]₂O}₂ (1), {[ⁿBu₂Sn(L⁴H)]₂O}₂ (4), {[ⁿBu₂Sn(L⁵H)]₂O}₂ (5) and {[ⁿBu₂Sn(L⁶H)]₂O}₂ (6) were determined. The compounds are centrosymmetric tetranuclear bis(dicarboxylatotetrabutyldistannoxane) complexes containing a planar Sn₄O₂ core in which two μ₃-oxo O-atoms connect an Sn₂O₂ ring to two exocyclic Sn-atoms. The four carboxylate ligands display two different modes of coordination where both modes involve bridging of two structurally distinct Sn-atoms. The solution structures were confirmed by ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy by observing two tin resonances in compounds 1, and 4-6. The observed difference between the two tin resonances was about 3 ppm while the differences in ¹³C resonances were even smaller. Compounds {[ⁿBu₂Sn(L²H)]₂O}₂ (2) and {[ⁿBu₂Sn(L³H)]₂O}₂ (3) undergo a very complex exchange processes in deuteriochloroform solution. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of compounds 1 and 4 against WIDR, M19 MEL, A498, IGROV, H226, MCF7 and EVSA-T human tumour cell lines is reported.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of [Bu3SbCr(CO)5], [Bu3BiM(CO)5] (M = Cr, W), and [Bu3BiMnCp′(CO)2] (Cp′ = η-C5H4CH3)

Syntheses and crystal structures of [^tBu₃SbCr(CO)₅] (1), [^tBu₃BiM(CO)₅] [M = Cr (2), W (3)] and [^tBu₃BiMnCp′(CO)₂] (4) (Cp′ = η⁵-C₅H₄CH₃) are reported.     

Self-assembly of diorganotin(IV) 2-{[(E)-1-(2-oxyaryl)alkylidene]amino}acetates: An investigation of structures by X-ray diffraction, solution and solid-state tin NMR, and electrospray ionization MS

The diorganotin(IV) compounds, [Me₂SnL²(OH₂)]₂ (1), [ⁿBu₂SnL²(OH₂)]₂ (2), [ⁿBu₂SnL¹]₃ · 0.5C₃H₆O (3), [ⁿBu₂SnL³]₃ · 0.5C₆H₆ (4) and [Ph₂SnL³]_n · 0.5C₆H₆ (5) (L = carboxylic acid residue, i.e., 2-{[(E)-1-(2-oxyaryl)alkylidene]amino}acetate), were synthesized by treating the appropriate diorganotin(IV) dichloride with the potassium salt of the ligand in anhydrous methanol.The reaction of Ph₂SnL² (L = 2-{[(E)-1-(2-oxyphenyl)ethylidene]amino}acetate) with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) yielded a 1:1 adduct of composition, [Ph₂SnL²(Phen)] (6).The crystal structures of 1-6 were determined.The crystal of 1 is composed of centrosymmetric dimers of the basic Me₂SnL²(OH₂) moiety, where the two Sn-centres are linked by two asymmetric Sn-O?Sn bridges involving the carboxylic acid O atom of the ligand and a long Sn?O distance of 3.174(2) Å.The dimers are further linked into columns by hydrogen bonds.The coordination geometry about the Sn atom is a distorted pentagonal bipyramid with the two methyl groups in axial positions.The structure of 2 is similar.The same Sn atom coordination geometry is observed in compound 3, which is a cyclic trinuclear[ⁿBu₂SnL¹]₃ compound. Each Sn atom is coordinated by the phenoxide O atom, one carboxylate O atom and the imino N atom from one ligand and both the exo- and endo-carboxylate O atoms (mean Sn-O(exo): 2.35 Å; Sn-O(endo): 2.96 Å) from an adjacent ligand to form the equatorial plane, while the two butyl groups occupy axial positions. Compound 4 was found to crystallize in two polymorphic forms. The Sn-complex in both forms has a trinuclear [ⁿBu₂SnL³]₃ structural motif similar to that found in 3. In compound 5, distorted trigonal bipyramidal Ph₂SnL³ units are linked into polymeric cis-bridged chains by a weak Sn?O interaction (3.491(2) Å) involving the exocyclic O atom of the tridentate ligand of a neighboring Sn-complex unit. This interaction completes a highly distorted octahedron about the Sn atom, where the weakly coordinated exocyclic O atom and one phenyl group are trans to one another. In contrast, a monomeric distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry is found for adduct 6 where the Sn-phenyl groups occupy the axial positions. The solution and solid-state structures are compared by using ¹¹⁹Sn NMR chemical shift data. Compounds 1-6 were also studied using ESI-MS and their positive- and negative-ions mass fragmentation patterns are discussed.     

Palladium(I) carbonyl carboxylate clusters cyclo-[Pd2(μ-CO)2(μ-OCOR)2]n (n = 2 or 3): Structure and reactivity

The interaction of palladium(+1) cluster Pd₄(μ-CO)₄(μ-OAc)₄ with saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids was studied. It was found, that the substitution of acetates groups on others carboxylates leads to the clusters with different nuclearity. Palladium(+1) carbonyl carboxylate complexes of composition [Pd(μ-CO)(μ-OCOR)]_n, where R = CF₃, CCl₃, CH₂Cl, MeCH = CMe, Me, Prⁱ, Bu, Buⁱ, Bu^tert, n-C₅H₁₁ and n = 4 or 6 were synthesized. According to X-ray data all clusters possess cyclic planar metal cores with alternate pairs of μ-carbonyl and μ-carboxylate ligands. The presence of bulky alkyl fragments in the carboxylate ligand increases the nuclearity of the cluster compared to that of the starting palladium(+1) carbonyl acetate of composition Pd₄(μ-CO)₄(μ-OAc)₄ due, apparently, to steric hindrance.     

Tin(IV) and organotin(IV) derivatives of bis(pyrazolyl)acetate: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and behaviour in solution.: X-ray single crystal study of bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetatotri-iodotin(IV) [SnI3(bdmpza)]

Novel heteroscorpionate-containing tin and organotin(IV) complexes, [SnR_nX_3 − n(L)], R = Me, Buⁿ, Ph, or cy; X = Cl, Br or I, n = 0, 1, 2 or 3; L = bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate (bpza) or bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate (bdmpza), have been synthesized and characterized by spectral (IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, ^119mSn Mössbauer) and analytical data. In [SnI₃(bdmpza)], the ligand is fac-N,N′,O-tridentate, the three iodine atoms thus also fac about the six-coordinate tin(IV) atom. Neutral bpzaH reacts with BuⁿSnCl₃, PhSnCl₃ and SnCl₄ in Et₂O in the absence of base, yielding 1:1 adducts [XSnCl₃(bpzaH)] (X = R or Cl).     

Intermetallic communication through a 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene connector

The electrochemical behavior of two series of homo- and heterometallic 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene-based transition metal complexes containing [(η²-dppf)(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru], [(PPh₃)₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os], [(^tBu₂bpy)(CO)₃Re], and [(bpy)(CO)₃ClRe] (dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene; ^tBu₂bpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridyl; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl-5-yl) building blocks have been studied, showing that there is electronic interaction between the appropriate metal atoms. The electronic absorption spectra reveal high energy bands corresponding to intraligand π → π∗ transitions (bpy, alkynyl) and low energy absorptions which are attributed to MLCT transitions; replacement of ruthenium by osmium results in a blue-shift of the MLCT bands. The associated radical cations of three complexes were in situ generated by chemical oxidation and characterized by continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigations in X-band performed at low temperatures.     

Protonation of the lithio derivatives of the 1,2,4-tri-phosphaferrocenes, [LiFe(η-P2C2Bu2PBu)(η-C5R5)] (R = H, Me): Crystal and molecular structure of [Fe(η-P3C2Bu2BuH)(η-C5Me5)]

A new synthetic route is described to generate the 4-centre-5 electron donor ring system (P₃C₂^tBu₂BuH), via protonation of the lithium salts [LiFe(η⁴-P₂C₂^tBu₂PBu)(η⁵-C₅R₅)] (R = H, Me). The molecular structure of [Fe(η⁴-P₃C₂^tBu₂BuH)(η⁵-C₅R₅)] (R = Me) has been determined by a single crystal X-ray study.