Various forms of linear dipyridyls in discrete rectangles, dinuclear rods, and one-dimensional networks containing (eta5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium(III)

Cp*Rh(eta1-NO3)(eta2-NO3)] (1) reacted with pyrazine (pyz) to give a dinuclear complex Cp*Rh(eta1-NO3)(mu-pyz)(0.5)]2.CH2Cl2(3.CH2Cl2). Tetranuclear rectangles of the type Cp*Rh(eta1,mu-X)(mu-L)(0.5)]4(OTf)4(4a: X = N3, L = bpy; 4b: X = N3, L = bpe; 4c: X = NCO, L = bpy) were prepared from Cp*Rh(H2O)3](OTf)2 (2), a pseudo-halide (Me3SiN3 or Me3SiNCO), and a linear dipyridyl 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy) or trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe)] by self-assembly through one-pot synthesis at room temperature. Treating complex with NH4SCN and dipyridyl led to the formation of dinuclear rods, Cp*Rh(eta1-SCN)3]2(LH2) (5a: L = bpy; 5b: L = bpe), in which two Cp*Rh(eta1-SCN)3 units are connected by the diprotonated dipyridyl (LH2(2+)) through N(+)-H...N hydrogen bonds. Reactions of complex 2 with 1-(trimethylsilyl)imidazole (TMSIm) and dipyridyl (bpy or bpe) also produced another family of dinuclear rods Cp*Rh(ImH)3]2.L (6a: L = bpy; 6b: L = bpe). Treating 1 and 2 with TMSIm and NH4SCN (in the absence of dipyridyl) generated a 1-D chain Cp*Rh(ImH)3](NO3)2 (7) and a 1-D helix Cp*Rh(eta1-SCN)2(eta1-SHCN)].H2O (8.H2O), respectively. The structures of complexes 3.CH2Cl2, 4a.H2O, 4c.2H2O, 5b, 6a, 7 and 8.H2O were determined by X-ray diffraction.