Electron-Deficient Imidazolium Substituted Cp Ligands and their Ru Complexes

The synthesis of electron-poor mono-, di- and tri(imidazolium)-substituted Cp-ylides is presented and their electronic properties are discussed based on NMR spectroscopy, X-ray structure analyses, electrochemical investigations and DFT calculations as well as by their reactivity toward [Ru(CH₃CN)₃Cp*](PF₆). With mono- and di(imidazolium)-substituted cyclopentadienides the respective monocationic and dicationic ruthenocences are formed (X-ray), whereas tri(imidazolium) cyclopentadienides are too electron-poor to form the ruthenocenes. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of the ruthenocenes shows reversible oxidation at a potential that increases with every additional electron-withdrawing imidazolium substituent at the Cp ligand by 0.53–0.55 V in an electrolyte based on a weakly coordinating anion. A reversible oxidation can be observed for the free 1,3-disubstituted ligand as well.