The effect of thiophene ring substitution position on the properties and electrochemical behaviour of alkyne-dicobaltcarbonylthiophene complexes

A large number of Co₂(CO)_6^- and Co₂(CO)₄(L-L)-substituted alkyne complexes (L-L = dppa and dmpm) have been prepared, characterized and studied by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry. In this paper we report a comparative electrochemical study of 2,5-, 2,4-, 3,4- and 2,3-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)thiophene dicobalt substituted alkyne complexes, in order to evaluate the extent of the electronic interaction between the “Co₂C₂” redox centres depending on the position of the alkynyl substituent on the thiophene ring.