Alkynyl Ti-M complexes with M = Cd and Hg: Synthesis, characterization, and reaction chemistry

The synthesis and properties of heterobimetallic Ti-Cd complexes of type {[Ti](μ-η¹:η²-CCR)₂}CdX₂ ([Ti] = Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂; R = SiMe₃: 3a, X = Cl; 3b, X = Br; 3c, X = I; R = Fc: 3d, X = Br; Fc = Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₅) is reported. These compounds were accessible by treatment of [Ti](CCR)₂ (1a, R = SiMe₃; 1b, R = Fc) with the cadmium salts CdX₂ (2a, X = Cl; 2b, X = Br; 2c, X = I) in a 1:1 M ratio in diethyl ether. Dissolving, for example, 3b in tetrahydrofuran afforded coordination polymer [Cd(μ-Br)₂(thf)₂]_n (4) along with the tweezer molecule 1a. Treatment of 3b with two equiv of LiCCFc (5) gave {[Ti](μ-η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)₂}Cd(CCFc)₂ (6) which eliminated at ambient temperature the all-carbon buta-1,3-diyne FcCC-CCFc (7) producing 1a and elemental Cd. The same reaction behavior was observed, when 2b was reacted with 5. The thus obtained bis(alkynyl) cadmium complex Cd(CCFc)₂ (8) is redox-active at low temperature producing 7 and Cd(0). When mercury halides HgX₂ (9a, X = Cl; 9b, X = Br) are used, then the titanocene dihalides [Ti]X₂ (10a, X = Cl; 10b, X = Br) together with Me₃SiCC-CCSiMe₃ (11) and Hg(0) were formed. Nevertheless, mercury acetylides were available by treatment of Hg(OAc)₂ (12) with HCCFc (13) in a 1:2 M ratio. Thus obtained Hg(CCFc)₂ (14) gave with [CuBr] (15) coordination polymer [{Hg(η²-CCFc)₂}(Cu₂(μ-Br)₂]_n (16), while with [AgPF₆] oxidation of the ferrocenyl moieties took place affording dicationic [Hg(CCFc)₂]²⁺ (18).The structures of 3b and 4 in the solid state are reported. Compound 3b shows the typical characteristics for heterobimetallic organometallic π-tweezer complexes with cadmium in a tetrahedral environment, while 4 corresponds to a one-dimensional coordination polymer in which the Cd(II) ions are linked in a edge-sharing fashion by bromide bridges in the pseudo-equatorial plane. The appropriate tetrahydrofuran molecules are completing the pseudo-octahedral coordination sphere at cadmium.The cyclic voltammogram of 14 is reported showing a single reversible redox event at E⁰ = 0.108 V with ΔE_p = 76 mV indicating that there is no communication between the Fc termini along the mercury acetylide unit.